Peter Obi’s brother’s property demolition… here’s all to know
My brother’s Lagos property demolished without court order – Peter Obi
Labour Party’s 2023 presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has alleged that a property belonging to his younger brother was demolished in Lagos without legal backing.
Obi made the claim in a statement shared on his verified X handle on Tuesday, stating that the building, owned by his brother’s company, had been standing for over 15 years before it was pulled down by unidentified persons.
According to him, the demolition was carried out without any formal notification, court order, or clear legal justification.
How it happened
Obi explained that the incident began when his brother, who had just returned from Port Harcourt, arrived at the company premises in Ikeja and was denied entry by security personnel.
The guards reportedly informed him that the building was under demolition. Alarmed, Obi said he flew in from Abuja to witness the scene firsthand but was also barred from accessing the site.
He recounted that when he inquired about the reason for the demolition, those on ground claimed it was based on a court order.
However, Obi said the supposed judgment was vague, addressed to unnamed squatters, and did not specifically reference his brother, the company, or contain any directive authorising demolition.
He questioned how a court could issue such an ambiguous ruling and lamented the absence of due process. “No one was served. No name was written. Yet they showed up with excavators and began destroying a structure that had stood for over 15 years,” he wrote.
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The former Anambra governor described the entire experience as “coordinated lawlessness” and accused those behind the operation of acting with impunity.
He said he waited at the site from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., expecting to hear from whoever ordered the demolition, but no one came forward. Even the contractor, according to Obi, had no idea who authorised the operation. Eventually, two men arrived and suggested they go to a police station but failed to present any official demolition order or documentation.
Obi expressed deep concern over the implications of such acts on Nigeria’s investment climate, citing a recent encounter with a foreign investor who refused to invest in Nigeria due to what he described as a reputation for lawlessness.
He warned that incidents like this damage the country’s image and deter economic growth. He stressed that this issue was not just about his family but reflects the harsh realities faced by many ordinary Nigerians, adding that if this could happen to someone with a registered company and legitimate ownership, the average citizen stood no chance.
No response from govt
As of the time of filing this report, no government agency had taken responsibility for the demolition, and no official explanation had been issued. Obi called for a new Nigeria where lawlessness would be eradicated and the protection of life, property, and civil rights upheld.