The Muslim communities have been taking sides following the outburst of the Murdir (leader) of popular Islamic school, Markaz Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies situated in the Agege area of Lagos State, Sheikh Muhammed Adam (El-ilory), who accused popular cleric, Sheikh Sulaimon Farooq, popularly known as Onikijipa, of masterminding his recent sickness through diabolical means.

Adam made this allegation on Sunday while speaking at the institution’s 2025 Ramadan Tafseer Programme.

Tafseer comes from an Arabic word, “fasara,” which means the exegesis or commentary on the Quran, and aims to provide explanation, interpretation, and context for a clear understanding of God’s will.

The Markaz’s leader said he had always renounced treating personality but issues, stressing that this year’s Ramadan lecture would explain the feud between him and Onikijipa.

According to him, the Kwara-based cleric who is always addressed as mufti (an Islamic jurist) had always pointed an accusing finger on his father (late Sheikh Adam) for not including his father’s name in the list of the noble clerics he mentioned in one of his books.

Before the lecture, Adam had challenged Onikijipa to be his subordinate while claiming that the latter came to his father’s institution to learn when he was already lecturing there.

He said, “I had finished an advanced class, gone to Kano State to learn more and returned to Markaz for lecturing after my father insisted that I stay before Sulaimon Farooq resumed Sanawi’yah Idadi (elementary) class. Who am I fighting with? How can he be saying Sheikh Adam (my father) offended him? The offence is that my father listed all the noble Islamic clerics in one of his books and refused to mention his father.

“Who’s even his father? His father is not the heir of the Onikijipa lineage. The people who reside in the compound of the Onikijipa lineage are the original and worthy ones to be referred as the Onikijipa. That’s their tradition in Ilorin. One Alfa Alabi Onikijipa is the recognized heir of the Onikijipa lineage. He’s one of the first students of Sheikh Taju Al-Adaby.”

At the lecture, Adam did not mention Onikijipa’s name directly, but he had earlier assured his congregation that he was going to give an in-depth explanation of what led to the feud between them.

He therefore addressed the Kwara-based cleric as “the person” and “he” throughout his narration.

“I am starting a discussion on this to vindicate Imam Fulani, who was framed for my sickness. Although I have been advised not to speak on the matter, I insisted. The sickness happened to me in 2022. Two months before it happened, I went to Ilorin for a wedding ceremony at Imam Fulani’s house. I wanted to go pay homage to the Kwara governor alongside Imam when he came. We were at Mudir Makama’s place when he met us, and one of his boys used a handkerchief to rub my neck. He collected the handkerchief from him before the clerics finally collected it from him.

“The second month, I travelled to Belgore’s house for a wedding. I was invited to speak, and honestly, nothing happened to me before I got there. When I got to the event with some other clerics who followed me from Lagos, he had already gotten there before me. He was sitting on the right-hand side of the chair that was allotted to me and was pretending to be welcoming me when I appeared. As we sat, he had already put something in my pocket. Although I didn’t know what it was and we never agreed that he should, because I was putting on ‘Agbada’, I didn’t notice on time.

“When it was time to begin the lecture that I was invited for, I greeted the people present there and I lost it on the spot. My speech became distorted. Thereafter, some clerics came to my aid. So I ordered that the marriage continue while I observed. Baba Oladimeji Igbaja was noticing me and was praying for my well-being. So one of Belgore’s children conveyed me to a private hospital and was eventually taken to the Ilorin General Hospital. I couldn’t talk neither did I lose my consciousness,” he narrated.

Adam dispelled the rumour that he was down with a stroke while claiming that he (Onikijipa) then approached his personal assistant, popularly known as ‘Abu Apatira’, to retrieve what he threw in his pocket.

The cleric continued, “He told my PA that he should help him retrieve the item he threw in my pocket. When he took the content out, it happened to be two gourds. So the clerics that followed me suggested that he should be given the gourds because he claimed that they were for protection, and he must slaughter an animal to appease it after usage.

“He left with them. He also noticed that I was still conscious despite not being able to speak. He then returned and brought other items that would be used to touch my head. So, my son disagreed with him. He was now telling the cleric that was with me that I was paralysed. Although they questioned his submission.”

The Markaz leader named three Islamic scholars — Dr Olaoti, Alfa Haroon Rosheed and Alhaji Yusuf Hamrah — as those Onikijipa told at the hospital that he was paralysed.

Debunking the claim on Sunday in Ilorin, Onikijipa swore with the Quran that he wasn’t responsible for Adam’s illness while beckoning the curses in the holy book to be his if he truly were.

“This is the Quran and we are in the month of Ramadan. We have not broken our fast and we are in the house of God. Since, I began my life, I have not sworn with the holy book but I will do this time.

“God, I’m in your house, if I Sulaimon Farooq, the son of Aminat knows anything about Mudir Markaz’s illness, let the curses in this holy book be mine. I repeat it four times to show my innocence. But if I don’t, and they are framing me up across the world, let the curses be upon them,” Onikijipa said.

The mufti, however, did not comment on the superiority claim and the lineage story told by Adam.

Both Adam and Onikijipa are respected clerics in the Southwest and some northern regions of the country.

A renewed boundary dispute between the Ikenga and Isiokwe communities in the Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State has left one person dead and several properties destroyed.

This is just as the police said they had invited both communities to a meeting on alternative dispute resolution mechanics.

TheNigerian Metro gathered from a statement by the Anambra Police Public Relations Office, Tochukwu Ikenga, that the clash occurred on Sunday.

Ikenga noted that following the dispute, the state Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Ortugu, also demanded that the suspect be identified to ensure justice was served.

Ikenga said, “Following the boundary dispute between Ikenga and Isiokwe villages in Umueri and Aguleri respectively that led to the murder of one and the destruction of properties in the area on March 16, 2025, the Commissioner of Police, Ikioye Orutugu, has interviewed parties involved in his office at Awka, today, March 18, 2025.

“The CP is seeking to explore Alternative Dispute Resolutions to the case and seeks the cooperation of the communities to identify the suspects involved and ensure justice is served.

“The CP noted that the approach has become necessary to resolve the boundary dispute between the Ikenga and Isiokwe villages and promote a culture of peace and reconciliation in the larger Umueri and Aguleri communities.”

Citing the response of the communities, the PPRO noted that both communities agreed to settle their differences.

He added that the CP extended condolences to the family of the deceased and urged them to always resort to the government for dispute resolution

“In their response, both communities agreed to work together, especially to discuss their differences on government interventions so far and partner with relevant stakeholders to work out modalities to ensure lasting peace, especially on boundaries.

“The CP while condoling with the family and friends of the deceased urged the parties to set up a committee to visit the bereaved and also assuage the victims whose properties were destroyed.

“He further directs each community to request/appeal to the government’s decision over the boundary adjustment whenever in doubt. To this effect, the CP believes that this platform shall provide the parties with the proceedings to resolve their differences amicably, without resorting to unnecessary and cumbersome litigation processes,” Ikenga concluded.

TheNigerian Metro reported in September 2024 that four men were killed in the Agu-Isioye community located on the boundaries of Enugwu Ukwu and Nawfia in Njikoka Local Government Area of the state over a boundary dispute.

Our correspondent had reported that the killings occurred when some youths and indigenes of the community were invited by the assailants to a piece of land on the pretence that they were buying the said land, only to be rounded up by the armed men who opened fire on them, thereby killing four persons instantly while others escaped with injuries.

The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi, has weighed in on the raging power tussle in Rivers State and urged the warring leaders to think about the poor in the state.

In a lengthy tweet on Tuesday regarding the crisis, Obi noted that the situation in Rivers is an example of how not to use democracy to serve the people.

Obi said it was unfortunate that 60 years after independence and nearly 30 years of the country’s unbroken civil rule, democracy is still marred by undemocratic practices and values.

The former Anambra State governor noted that a significant percentage of Nigeria’s elections are deeply flawed and manipulated to serve the interests of a select few rather than reflecting the true will of the people.

“Governance at most levels does not reflect the genuine values and aspirations of the people because the welfare of the citizens is often neglected in practice,” he said.

“Looking at the ongoing crisis in Rivers State, we see yet another glaring example of how our democracy and governance are not serving their purpose—the welfare of the people of Rivers State. The disagreement is not about improving the measurable indices of development: education, healthcare, or lifting people out of poverty, but rather for reasons that do not in any way benefit the people of Rivers State and Nigeria in general.

“I fully understand the impact of what is happening in Rivers State. The real losers are the people—their welfare and the future of the society their children will live in.

“My respectful appeal to all those involved is to reconsider their positions and reflect on the grace God has bestowed upon them as leaders. They must think about the suffering people of Rivers State and work towards a better future for their children.

“My commitment remains to continuously remember them in earnest prayers and to advocate for their well-being. I also appeal to well-meaning Nigerians and the Federal Government, in the spirit of true democracy and good governance, to use their offices to restore normalcy and bring an end to this crisis. A new Nigeria is POssible!”

A Nigerian medical doctor based in the United States, Ojo Oluwatosin, is seeking protection from the Lagos State Commissioner of Justice, Lawal Pedro, and the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, against suspected unknown thugs over a parcel of land in the Lekki area of the state.

In an SOS message signed by his lawyer, Ayodele Osanyinlusi, and shared with our correspondent on Monday, the medical doctor stated that the land, currently under litigation in the Lagos State High Court’s lands division, was intended for the construction of a medical hospital.

“Upon the commencement of work and mobilising workers to the land, over 20 thugs stormed the land that was under construction to drive out the workers and other security people,” the SOS partly read.

Meanwhile, a certified true copy of a court ruling dated December 10, 2024, issued by Honourable Justice Akinkunmi Idowu, granted an interlocutory injunction in favour of Oluwatosin, restraining all defendants in the case from approaching the land.

Justice Idowu ruled, “An order for an interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents, whether by themselves, their servants or agents, or privies or otherwise, whoever from trespassing, harassing, or going into the land or carrying out any activities whatsoever on the land, pending the hearing and determination of the suit.

“An order for an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves, their servants, or agents, or privies, or otherwise, from using force, thugs, the police, or other agencies of the Federal Government to harass, intimidate, or break into the property… pending the hearing and determination of this suit.”

However, Oluwatosin stated that despite the court ruling, unidentified thugs continued to visit the land on weekends, intimidating and harassing workers.

He called on Tinubu, Sanwo-Olu, and the Lagos State Attorney General, Lawal Pedro, to protect his investment and safeguard his life from the suspected perpetrators.

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday, Osanyinlusi called on the authorities to safeguard his client’s life and property, warning that urgent intervention was needed to prevent the situation from escalating into violence.

He said, “We do not want violence or chaos. We are law-abiding Nigerians, which is why we are calling on the police and well-meaning citizens to help prevent any bloodshed.”

When asked about the alleged threats and harassment related to the land dispute during a phone conversation with TheNigerian Metro on Monday, Oseni Akerele, a lawyer representing one of the defendants in the suit, declined to comment, stating that he would not speak on a matter currently before the court.

“It will be contemptuous of me to make any comment or statement regarding the case since we have all submitted ourselves to the court’s jurisdiction. If anybody has any grievance, let them go back to the court. We are still in court. The matter has just been adjourned,” Akerele stated before ending the phone conversation.

The notoriety of the Nigerian judicial system for delayed justice is likely unrivalled. Seeking justice through the Nigerian court is mostly a tortuous, testing and tiring experience. Often, the journey is chequered by endless delays, manifesting in the form of frequent long adjournments, case re-assignment and multiple fresh starts when presiding judges retire, recuse themselves or are elevated. This and more is exactly the story of the Longe family of Ibadan, Oyo State, who have been locked in a long-drawn-out legal battle with their “alleged” family lawyer — who is now dead —  over the property left behind by their late patriarch, Jonathan Longe.

The lawsuit, marked  1/101/2011, which began 14 years ago, parades some of the celebrated names in Nigerian judicial circles.

Famous human rights lawyer, Bamidele Aturu,  was the original claimants’ lawyer. Samuel Ige — a younger brother of the late renowned ex-Attorney General of the Federation, Chief Bola Ige (SAN) — is the first defendant; while retired Supreme Court Justice Kayode Eso was joined as the fourth defendant.

While the over-decade-old lawsuit remains mired in endless delays, these active players in the lawsuit have passed on.

The main defendant, Samuel Ige, died in May 2012 (a year after the case began); Justice Eso died six months later on November 16, 2012; while Aturu passed on in 2014.

Agonisingly, however, long after these original actors have departed the world, the case, now in its 14th year,  continues to drag without any end in sight.

The next hearing has been slated for February 4, 2025, before Justice K.B. Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, who is the fourth judge to handle the case since it was filed in 2011.

Justice Olawoyin inherited the case late last year and it started afresh before him for the fifth time.

Between 2011 and now, two of the four judges who  have handled the case have retired, while the last one before Justice Olawoyin recused himself from the matter, after a year of stagnation.

The late Aturu’s place has been taken by one of his protégés, Mrs. Omolade Yusuf; the late Justice Eso’s daughter, Helen, is now standing in her father’s place; while Ige’s son, Leye, represents his father.

The dispute

At the centre of this extraordinary legal battle,  marked  1/101/2011, is a property known as No. 9 Olagbegi Avenue, Bodija Estate, Ibadan. Originally a block of four flats, formerly designated as Plots 44, 45 and 46 Bodija Estate, Ibadan, it has now metamorphosed into a school.

The claimants are Olatokunbo Longe and Afolabi Longe — children of the property’s original owner — who sued on behalf of themselves and the Longe family.

Listed as defendants are Chief Samuel Ige (now deceased); Oyo State Housing Corporation; Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice; and retired Justice Kayode Eso, now represented by Helen Aina.

In the lawsuit, the Longes explained that their father, Jonathan Longe, died on July 4, 1972.

They claimed that during Longe’s lifetime, he engaged Samuel Ige as his solicitor. Before Longe died, he prepared his Will and appointed his first son, Foluso A.B. Longe, and Gabriel B. Fatile as executors and trustees of his estate.

The Longes said until their father’s death in 1972, he paid yearly rent on the property, because it was on mortgage from Western Region Housing Corporation, Ibadan.

They said in their father’s Will, he listed sources of funds to be used to redeem the mortgage, including a 10-acre land at Isheri in Lagos, which he directed to be sold.

The Longes claimed that upon their father’s death, the family retained Ige as solicitor and Ige continued to manage the property on their behalf, collecting rent.

They stated that all went well until the trustees listed in the Will died. Fatile died on July 18, 1982, while Foluso Longe died six years later, on January 5, 1988.

With the death of the two trustees, they claimed the lawyer related with the matriarch of the family, Chief Mrs. A.O. Longe. However, she too died in December 2002.

Longe’s children alleged that following the deaths of the two original trustees and the matriarch, Ige “forged a Deed of Assignment dated 10th October 2003, bearing the signatures of the two executors, who died in 1982 and 1988.”

They alleged that “with the forged Deed of Assignment purportedly signed by the two executors, who died over 15 years earlier, the 1st defendant  transferred the ownership of the property to himself and re-registered it as 20/20/3423.”

They further alleged that “The property worth over N300m was sold with the forged Deed of Assignment to Hon. Justice Kayode Eso (CON) in another Deed of Assignment dated 10/04/2005 and registered as number 39/39/3459 at the Registry of Deed, Ibadan.”

Furthermore, they alleged that “Chief Oladele Ige refused to give an account of the rents he collected on the said property since 1972, including £80,000, which he claimed was in a bank account.”

The Longes petition police

According to legal documents analysed by our correspondents, the tussle started off with a petition written by Longe’s children in 2009 to the Inspector General of Police against Ige, whom they described as their family solicitor.

The petition was titled, “A Case of Forgery, Stealing and Fraudulent Conversion of Proceeds of Sale of Property Worth N300m”.

The complainant was Olatokunbo Longe, the fifth child of the late Longe.

Listed as suspects were (1) Samuel Oladele Ige (Prime Suspect) and (2) Hon. Justice Kayode Eso (He bought the property).

The police investigated the complaint and released “A Police Interim Investigation Report” dated January 15, 2010, which was signed by the Commissioner of Police, Special Investigation Unit, Force Headquarters, Abuja, CP Ali Amodu.

In the Interim Investigation Report addressed to the Inspector General of Police, Amodu wrote: “It is apparent from the investigation so far conducted that the document on the Bodija property could have been forged soon after the death of the legitimate executors of the late Longe’s Will and that of the late Mrs Longe, the stepmother of the complainant.

“The current investigation is trying to unravel the mystery surrounding the claim of the prime suspect, Chief Ige, that the executors of the Will, who died between 1982 and 1988, could have authenticated the documents of the property for him in 2003 — 15 clear years after the death of the last executor.”

Amodu also raised concern about Justice Eso’s alleged refusal to write a statement when approached by the police.

 The CP stated: “Another pertinent issue worth mentioning to the IGP is the refusal of Hon. Justice Kayode Eso (CON) to make a statement to the police. The retired Supreme Court judge was the person who bought the controversial property in 2005. He admitted orally but declined to make a written statement on the issue. He will, however, be reminded of the legal implication of his action, that the police may obtain a warrant for his arrest if his current attitude persists.”

Amodu concluded by saying: “A detailed report will be submitted to the IGP on the conclusion of the police investigation on the matter, sir.”

The Longes demand Final Investigation Report

In March 2010, three months after the police released the Preliminary Investigation Report, the Longes, through their counsel, Emmanuel A. Adenle & Co, wrote to the IG, demanding “Final Police Investigation Report.”

In the demand letter, dated March 1, 2010, the family lawyer raised concern about Justice Eso’s alleged refusal to make a statement to the police.

He wrote: “After going through the interim (investigation) report and listening to the rumour making the rounds in Ibadan, we are a bit disturbed for the following reasons:

“That Justice Kayode Eso (retd.), who purportedly bought the property in issue without adequate investigations, ‘declined to make a written statement on the issue’ to the IG’s team.

“We make bold to say that Hon. Justice Kayode Eso is not above the law.

“The fact that a police officer from the IG’s office went to his house to obtain a statement from him appeared to be a misplaced honour, which he has abused. We believe that he should be ordered to report to the IG’s office to make his statement that can vindicate him, if any.

“This is a criminal matter with uncontroverted documentary evidence and there is no reason why anyone should be intimidated.

“Our clients are becoming restive and are warming up to take this case to the ‘Peoples Parliament’. We are doing our best to douse the tension because our confidence in the upper echelon of the police is solid and unshakable.”

The lawsuit

Eventually, in 2011, the Longes engaged renowned human rights lawyer, Aturu, to take over the case. On their behalf, Aturu’s chamber filed the civil lawsuit, marked 1/101/2011, before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.

Among other prayers, the Longes sought “A declaration that the purported assignment of the property known as No. 9 Olagbegi Avenue, Bodija Estate, Ibadan, by the 1st defendant (Ige) to Hon. Justice Kayode Eso (retd.) vide the Deed of Assignment dated 1st April 2005 and registered as No. 39 at Page 39, Volume 3457 at the Lands Registry Ibadan is invalid, null and void and of no effect whatsoever, being an assignment made by a person without title and authority to transfer title.”

They prayed for “An order quashing the consent granted by the Oyo State Commissioner for Lands and Survey to the purported assignment of the property known as No. 9 Olagbegi Avenue, Bodija Estate, Ibadan, to Hon. Justice Kayode Eso (retd.) by the 1st defendant, dated 31st March 2005.”

Furthermore, the Longes urged the court to mandate Ige to deliver to them all the title documents of the disputed property, “which were put in the care and custody of the 1st defendant by the plaintiffs’ father as his solicitor.”

They also urged the court to mandate Ige to pay them N100m in general damages.

Oladele Ige’s defence

Following the death of Chief Oladele Ige in 2012, he was replaced by his son, Leye Ige, by an “order of court made on the 28th day of January 2013.”

In his 52-paragraph amended Statement of Defence dated January 9, 2014, Leye staunchly denied the claim that his father fraudulently converted the disputed property to his own.

He noted that though the claimants, in 2009, wrote a “malicious petition” to the police against his father, and his father was invited by the police and interviewed, “he was never charged or even arrested over any alleged fraudulent acts in respect of the property till the time of his death three years later.”

Leye also denied that his father worked for the late Jonathan Longe as a solicitor.

He claimed that the late original executors sold the property to his father when they could not pay the mortgage debt that had piled up on the property.

Leye said, “At the time, Nigersol Construction Company Limited, which had become the mortgagee and was itself under liquidation, had sought to exercise its power of sale in respect of the (Longe’s) property.

“As the sole liquidator of Nigersol Construction Company Limited, my late father was responsible for recovering delinquent loans and directing the sale of secured assets, including the property in dispute.

“My late father was approached by the initial executors to purchase the property, so that part of the purchase price would be used to settle the mortgage debt. They explained that this would produce better value than a fire sale at a public auction.

“My late father purchased the property in dispute and it was validly transferred to him by Mr Foluso A. B. Longe and Mr Gabriel B. Fatile, the initial executors of the late Jonathan Longe’s Will.”

Leye said the transfer “was evidenced by a Deed of Assignment.”

He, however, claimed the Deed of Assignment was “left undated and unregistered at the time of execution, in order to avoid incurring excessive stamp duty charges and to facilitate a quiet re-sale to the Longe family, should the necessary funds to re-purchase the property become available.”

Leye insisted that notwithstanding that the Deed of Assignment was later dated October 10, 2003 —15 years after the executors’ death — the property was “validly transferred to my late father by the initial executors during their lifetime.”

He also claimed the Deed of Assignment was signed in the presence of bona fide witnesses but said “all reasonable efforts made to trace the witnesses have proven abortive.”

Leye described the Longes’ suit against his late father as a “vexatious” action “based on misinformation and injurious falsehood, thereby, constituting an abuse of court processes.”

He, therefore, urged the court to “dismiss the claims of the claimants.”

Justice Eso’s defence

In defence of the late Justice Eso, his son, Olumide Eso, an architect, deposed to a 43-paragraph Witness Statement on Oath dated April 11, 2022.

Olumide said by virtue of his relationship with his late father “I am thoroughly familiar with the facts of this case.”

He revealed that his father bought the disputed property from the late Chief Oladele Ige at the price of N16m, paid in three tranches of N6.5m on August 7, 2003; N1.5m on August 27, 2003; and  N8m on October 13, 2003.

He said in addition to three payment receipts and a Deed of Assignment, his father also obtained “a sworn statement of indemnity from Chief Oladele Ige, indemnifying my father from any loss or  hindrance he might suffer if it subsequently turned out that there was a contrary claim to the property.”

Olumide admitted that the Deed of Assignment presented by Ige to his father was unregistered, prompting Justice Eso’s estate agent, Mrs Laide Akinseye-George, to visit the property and interviewed tenants.

According to Olumide, the tenants confirmed Ige as their landlord.

 Additionally, Akinseye-George visited the Oyo State Housing Corporation in Bodija, where the corporation, according to Olumide, verified that Ige was the legal owner of the property.

Olumide said, “At this stage, my father insisted that unless the property was registered, he was not prepared to purchase it. Chief Samuel Oladele Ige accepted this condition and went ahead to register the property with the Oyo State Housing Corporation and the Oyo State Ministry of Housing, Lands and Survey.”

Olumide said on taking possession of the property, Justice Eso found that the existing structure was dilapidated, so, he demolished it and built a modern two-storey apartment complex.

According to Olumide, the construction of the new building took four years, from January 2004 to 2007, yet the claimant did not show up until 2009 to make claims of ownership.

“Throughout the four-year period of heavy and noisy construction work on the property, involving the delivery of building materials by trailers and other heavy trucks, no one appeared in order to challenge my father’s title or authority to take possession of the property, demolish the existing building and erect a brand new modern complex on the site.

“The site of the building being constructed was not fenced until 26 October 2006 and the ongoing heavy works were open for passers-by to view for over three years.”

Olumide said when the claimants showed up in 2009, his father expressed his astonishment that “anyone claiming title to the property could have remained quiet for so long in spite of the heavy construction work that took place on the property for over four years.”

“Our claim is that the claimants are clearly guilty of laches and acquiescence and they have clearly slept on their right insofar as the rights of the 4th defendant to the property is concerned.”

Olumide contended that if the claimants succeed in their ownership claim, the could would not order the return of the property to them but only order Ige to pay them for the value in addition to damages.

Alternatively, he said should the Longes succeed and seek to retrieve the property, they will have to pay the Eso family N350m “being the current value of the building complex and the land constituting the property.”

Olumide said, “Equity aids only the vigilant. Equity  prohibits unjust enrichment and will not permit a situation where the claimants looked on as my father innocently and for value poured resources into the property without a squeak of protest from the claimants.”

Olumide urged the court to dismiss the claimants’ suit and award heavy costs against them.

However, 14 years on, the court has not been able to determine where the pendulum will swing.

Judicial delays, re-assignments, fresh starts

A letter, dated January 26, 2016, written by Aturu’s chamber to the Chief Judge of Oyo State, revealed the long delays that the case has suffered and captured the frustrations of the Longes over the lawsuit.

In the letter titled “Application of Urgent Re-assignment,” Mrs Omolade Yusuf of Aturu’s chambers chronicled the tortuous trajectory of the suit in the labyrinth of the court.

According to Yusuf’s narration, the suit, when filed in 2011, was assigned to Justice  Munta Abimbola, “before whom most of the proceedings were heard at the pre-trial stage.”

Yusuf said the suit ran into first delays “when Justice Abimbola was sent on a national assignment to sit at an election tribunal.”

“While Justice Abimbola was away on assignment, the case inadvertently suffered a delay of about one year before the judge resumed,” the claimants’ lawyer stated.

Eventually, Justice Abimbola returned from the election tribunal but the hope that the case would resume immediately was dashed as “Justice Abimbola was immediately elevated to the position of the Chief Judge of the High Court, Oyo State and as a result, the said matter had to be transferred to Justice Oladehinde and as such suffered further delay.”

“Whilst the case was pending before Justice Oladehinde for over one year, the matter was never heard, even though it was slated for trial to begin.

“At the last adjourned date, which was January 21, 2016, the said case was to come up for commencement of trial but upon getting there, we were informed that Justice Oladehinde had retired and that the matter would subsequently be reassigned to another court,” Yusuf lamented.

Relating the frustration of her clients, the lawyer stated: “It is very crucial to state that the claimants (our client) have suffered extreme and untold hardships due to the severe delay occasioned in this matter, which has now spanned five years without trial having commenced. Any further delay would deny the claimants their right to justice and erode their belief in our justice system as ‘Justice delayed is justice denied’.”

Yusuf appealed to the Chief Judge that the lawsuit be “urgently re-assigned to another court for continuation of proceedings, so as to ensure that our clients’ rights are protected.”

But despite Yusuf’s passionate plea for an expeditious hearing in 2016, nine years after, the case remains delayed.

On June 11, 2024 — eight years after — Yusuf had to write another letter of lamentation, chronicling new layers of delays and setbacks that have bogged the case down.

The second letter addressed to the Chief Judge of Oyo State prayed for yet another re-assignment and a fresh start, 13 years after the case first began.

Her letter was titled:  “Request for an immediate and speedy reassignment.”

The letter revealed that following the retirement of Justice Oladehinde in 2016, the case returned to Justice Abimbola, who first heard it.

Before Justice Abimbola, where the case started afresh for the third time, five years after it was filed, it crawled for another six years but thankfully, the case eventually made it to the final stages.

After calling their witnesses and tendering documents over a six-year period,  the parties,  on November 23, 2022, adopted their final written addresses and Justice  Abimbola then adjourned for judgment.

But alas, before the slated judgment day, Justice Abimbola retired “and the file had to be yet again sent back to the registry for reassignment,” Yusuf lamented.

“Our clients (the claimants herein) were quite devastated at the news as their hopes of getting justice were becoming dimmer by the day given the number of years the case had been ongoing for,” the lawyer groaned.

Another fresh start

With Justice Abimbola’s retirement in 2022, the case was then re-assigned to Justice M. O.  Ishola, to start afresh yet again —for the fourth time!

The entire six years spent on hearing the case before Justice Abimbola and all the resources spent in lawyers’ fees and witnesses’ mobilisation had gone to waste.

Though Justice Abimbola retired in 2022, it took another whole year before the suit was re-assigned to Justice Ishola in February 2023.

In Justice Ishola’s court, the case stagnated for over a year until finally on May 7, 2024, Justice Ishola announced he would be recusing himself from hearing the matter “for personal reasons”.

Justice Ishola announced that he would return the case file to the Chief Judge to re-assign to another judge to start afresh — for the fifth time!

Enters Justice Olawoyin

With Justice Ishola’s recusal, the case was reassigned to Justice K.B. Olawoyin.

Findings by The TheNigerian, showed that the case had come up three times before Justice Olawoyin on October 4, 2024, November 7, 2024, and  December 11, 2024.

At the last hearing date, Justice Olawoyin further adjourned till February 4, 2025.

“Hopefully, Justice Olawoyin will hear the case,” Yusuf said with resignation.

In her June 11, 2024 letter to the Chief Judge, seeking another re-assignment of the case after Justice Ishola recused himself, Yusuf laid bare the untold frustration she and her clients had faced over a 14-year period seeking justice that keeps taking the appearance of a mirage.

She lamented: “From the facts stated above, it is quite evident that this case has suffered several setbacks, and a direct consequence of those setbacks is that the claimants keep wasting their very scarce resources, the counsel’s valuable time and efforts are equally wasted and, perhaps, most important of all is that the claimants are up to date still unable to access the justice that they deserve.”

She pointed out that her principal, Aturu, who started the case in 2011, had died.

“My Lord, this case was filed in 2011 by the late Bamidele Aturu of very blessed memory. He actively fought for justice to be done before his untimely death in July 2014.

“This case is a documentary case that ought to have been determined in a few months as opposed to the almost 14 years  it has been (and still counting) in court.

“The claimants have suffered untold hardship and severe emotional trauma as they are beginning to believe that justice in this case is becoming increasingly delayed and now fear it may not be obtained in their lifetime.

“Their late father toiled for them (his children) to have better opportunities in life, only for his deathbed wishes to be snatched by the very person he entrusted them to.

“We, therefore, hope and very strongly believe that the above-described matter will be reassigned to another court without further ado for proceedings to continue, to revive the last thread of hope in our clients, the claimants herein,” Yusuf stated.

It remains to be seen whether this case will make it to a conclusion and whether this extraordinary legal battle will ever come to an end.

 

Additional report: Onozure Dania

Twelve years. A dozen years that have transformed Nigeria’s corporate landscape, witnessed technological revolutions, and seen the rise of a new generation of business leaders. In the labyrinthine world of Nigerian corporate history, some stories refuse to fade into obscurity.

Apparently, like our favourite movie heroes from the ’90s, can rise from the dead. In this case, a commercial transaction emerging from the shadows with a renewed intensity that has caught the attention of Nigeria’s business elite and legal corridors.

The current legal proceedings involving the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and Dr Oba Otudeko represent more than just a commercial dispute—they are a complex tapestry of institutional memory, professional reputation, and the intricate dance of power and accountability. Dr. Oba Otudeko—a name synonymous with Nigerian business leadership—finds himself at the centre of a legal maelstrom that threatens to challenge the legacy he has spent decades constructing. This is not just a legal dispute, but a seismic event in the business landscape.

The Anatomy of a Dormant Dispute

Picture Lagos in the early 2000s. The banking sector trembled on the brink of revolutionary change. The Central Bank’s bold consolidation policies in 2005 were about to rewrite Nigeria’s entire economic narrative. From 89 fragmented banking institutions to just 25 robust entities, this was economic surgery of the most precise kind. Consequently, the total banking sector capitalisation exploded from ₦300 billion to over ₦2.6 trillion.

Dr. Oba Otudeko emerged in this complex symphony of institutional restructuring. His journey from the Cooperative Bank to building Honeywell Enterprises, and then rising to the pinnacle of Nigerian business leadership represents more than individual success – it embodies the transformative potential of strategic vision and institutional commitment.

What makes this legal pursuit particularly intriguing is its temporal complexity. A commercial transaction from 2012 – 2013 suddenly resurfaces in 2025, raising critical questions about timing, motivation, and the broader dynamics of institutional accountability. According to reports, the prominent entrepreneur found out in the media that he had been charged by EFCC for an alleged 12.3bn fraud. In addition, the initial investigation was concluded seven years ago and was thought to have been resolved.

Sources suggest the dispute involves complex financial transactions related to First Bank of Nigeria, a cornerstone institution in which Oba Otudeko has historically played a significant leadership role. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has shown renewed interest in examining these historical transactions, prompting widespread speculation.

Beyond the legal technicalities lies a profound human story. Oba Otudeko represents a generation of business pioneers who navigated Nigeria’s complex economic terrain during periods of significant transformation. The Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) has been a business leader, mentor, institution builder, and quiet force behind numerous successful Nigerian enterprises. His track record of contributing to national economic development starkly contrasts the current legal challenges.

But the public must ask the necessary questions. What institutional mechanisms allow for such delayed legal pursuits? How do such proceedings impact investor confidence and corporate governance? Why resurrect a seemingly resolved commercial matter after twelve years? The timing and nature of these proceedings raise critical systemic questions.

To understand this moment, it is imperative to examine similar institutional battles. For instance, the rapid expansion of Intercontinental Bank Saga in 2009, with total assets worth ₦2.1 trillion, was followed by systemic vulnerabilities and, subsequently, a complete institutional restructuring. In 2012, the complex shareholder disputes and legal battles surrounding the African Petroleum Corporation highlighted the intricate nature of corporate governance in Nigeria, which must be addressed.

We must also be careful not to conflate legal proceedings with predetermined guilt. This case transcends an individual narrative. It represents a broader dialogue about institutional accountability, the evolving nature of corporate governance in Nigeria, and the delicate balance between legal scrutiny and professional reputation.

Nevertheless, there are key observations. The legal timelines, and ‘landmines’ in Nigeria are complex and multilayered, presenting a formidable challenge to business leaders. While a sterling personal reputation remains a critical form of economic capital, it can also be defeated by a barrage of media narratives and social media innuendoes. And yes, corporate accountability is still a nuanced, contextual concept, but the future demands enhanced technological transparency, more sophisticated governance models, greater integration of ethical and social considerations and increased stakeholder participation.

The legal proceedings continue, with the next hearing scheduled for February 13. The business community watches with a mixture of concern and cautious optimism. The outcome could potentially set significant precedents for examining and adjudicating historical commercial transactions, a potential game-changer in the Nigerian corporate governance landscape.

Dr. Otudeko’s response remains measured and principled. His commitment to addressing the matter through appropriate legal channels demonstrates a continued respect for institutional processes. In the grand narrative of Nigerian business leadership, this chapter—however challenging—is but one moment in a distinguished journey. The true measure of leadership is not the absence of challenges but the grace and integrity with which they are confronted.

The story continues, and history will be the ultimate judge.

 

Abiola writes from Lagos

 

 

 

Tragedy struck in the Amai community, Ukwuani Local Government Area of Delta State, as a 70-year-old man, Mr Aghanti, and his 50-year-old daughter, Mrs Atagoshi, were reportedly beheaded over a land dispute.

The gruesome incident occurred after the suspect allegedly lured the victims into the bush under the pretext of discussing the land issue.

Their headless bodies were later discovered in the bush.

TheNigerian Metro gathered that the woman, a secondary school teacher, had earlier purchased a piece of land in the community, which some individuals subsequently claimed.

Confirming the incident, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Bright Edafe, revealed that the assailant invited the victims to the bush, where the heinous crime was committed.

Edafe said, “The suspect called the woman, saying he wanted to discuss the land issue. He then took her and her father into the bush, killed them, and beheaded them.

“On the same day, vigilantes apprehended one Emeke with two human heads. He was mobbed and set ablaze by angry residents. Upon inspection, it was discovered that the human heads belonged to the father and daughter.

“Their headless bodies were found in the bush.”

Edafe added that the main suspect is currently on the run, while efforts are ongoing to apprehend him.

All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheNigerian.

Contact: [email protected]

A 17-year-old and mother of one year and five months baby, simply identified as Deola, has reportedly committed suicide due to a misunderstanding between her and her spouse, Seyi, over two cups of rice.

The incident occurred in the Labi community in the Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, and she was buried on Tuesday.

The TheNigerian investigations revealed that she allegedly took an insecticide when she had a misunderstanding with her husband over the measurement of rice to be prepared for her kid.

When our correspondent visited the community on Wednesday, a family source, who preferred anonymity, said, “The two of them (husband and wife) actually had a minor issue over a measurement of rice.

“When she was trying to prepare food in the morning, the husband only advised her to measure just two cups because the food was meant for her and the kid, meaning that he (husband) would not eat out of it, but she got angry.

“So, to avoid crisis, the husband left home immediately. She prepared the food and took the kid to school. She took insecticide after she came back and nobody knew.”

Another family source told The TheNigerian that “she suddenly became weak and started vomiting. After we discovered that, we then called her husband, who had already left home on the phone, to come back.

“We quickly rushed her to a nearby hospital before she was transferred to another hospital at Orogun community in this Akinyele Local Government. She eventually gave up the ghost and we buried her yesterday (Tuesday).”

As of press time, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Adewale Osifeso, could not be reached for comment.