Peter Obi Alleges Demolition of Brother’s Lagos Property Without Court Order

Peter Obi, Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 elections, has alleged that a property belonging to his younger brother was demolished in Lagos without any valid legal order.

Obi made the claim on Tuesday via a post on his verified X handle, stating that the property, owned by his brother’s company, had been standing for over 15 years before it was torn down by unidentified individuals.

According to him, the demolition was carried out based on what he described as a questionable court judgment, which neither mentioned his brother, the property, nor contained any demolition directive.

“This morning, my youngest brother called me in distress to inform me that his company property in Ikeja, Lagos, was being demolished by unknown individuals,” Obi wrote.
“He had just arrived from Port Harcourt and was denied access to the premises by security men, who told him the building was being pulled down.”

Obi said he flew in from Abuja immediately and was also prevented from accessing the site. Those carrying out the demolition claimed they were acting on a court order.

However, Obi insisted that the court judgment only referenced unnamed squatters and made no mention of a demolition order or any directive against his brother or the property.

“How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a case? No one was served; no names were mentioned. Yet they arrived with excavators and destroyed a building that has stood for over 15 years,” Obi lamented.

He described the incident as an example of “coordinated lawlessness,” expressing concern over what he sees as Nigeria’s growing culture of impunity.

“I stood at the site from 10 am to 2 pm, waiting to hear from whoever ordered the demolition. No one came. The contractor didn’t even know who hired him,” he recounted.
“Two men eventually suggested we go to a police station, but they couldn’t produce a demolition order. The whole process reeked of impunity. Our country is sliding into lawlessness.”

Obi also used the incident to highlight broader concerns about Nigeria’s investment climate, citing a recent conversation with an investor who refused to invest in Nigeria due to its reputation for lawlessness.

“This isn’t about me or my brother. It’s about what ordinary Nigerians face daily. If this can happen to a legitimate company with documented ownership, what chance does the average citizen have?” he asked.

Obi reaffirmed his commitment to building a new Nigeria where the rule of law is respected, and citizens’ lives and property are protected.

As of the time of this report, no government agency had claimed responsibility for the demolition, and no official explanation had been provided.