Peter Obi’s Brother Fights Back in Court Over Lagos Property Demolition, Challenges Execution of Court Judgment

 

Legal Storm Brews as Peter Obi’s Brother Drags Ikeja Demolition to Court

A growing legal tussle has erupted following the demolition of a property belonging to Ndibe Obi, the brother of former presidential candidate Peter Obi and a key stakeholder in Next Foods Ltd. The incident, which took place in Ikeja, Lagos, has now taken a new turn with a court battle initiated by the aggrieved company.

On Thursday, Emeka Okpoko, SAN, legal counsel for Next Foods Ltd, publicly disclosed that the company had formally launched a legal response to challenge the demolition. The attorney laid out a detailed legal roadmap, indicating that multiple applications had already been filed at the court to address what he described as a grave miscarriage of justice.

The legal team representing Next Foods is not merely asking for a reversal of the demolition; they are pushing for comprehensive judicial intervention. “We are applying to be joined as parties in the suit that led to the judgment. There’s a motion requesting that the judgment be set aside, along with applications for an injunction to halt any further action on the property,” Okpoko explained to the press.

He emphasized that they are also seeking to transform the current proceedings from originating summons to pleadings. This would allow for a full trial where all parties can present their cases. Okpoko argued that such a conversion is critical for the sake of justice and transparency, as it would give the court a better opportunity to evaluate the positions of all involved stakeholders.

Tracing the roots of the dispute, Okpoko revealed that the property in question was legally acquired in 2011, and by 2013, the Governor of Lagos State had given formal consent for the purchase. No controversy or legal issues reportedly arose concerning the land until the recent court judgment, which Okpoko claimed was delivered under questionable procedural circumstances.

The company’s legal counsel refrained from casting aspersions on the judge who presided over the case. Instead, he pointed to a serious procedural flaw: “The court granted a motion for substituted service which resulted in documents being pasted rather than served directly. As a result, our client never got the opportunity to respond before judgment was entered,” he noted.

Even more troubling, he said, was the execution timeline. The judgment was handed down in 2024, but enforcement did not occur until June 2025. According to Okpoko, this exceeds the statutory window for executing such a judgment, making the demolition an unlawful act in their view.

As tensions escalate, the Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council Worldwide has entered the fray, condemning the demolition in strong terms. The youth wing of the prominent Igbo socio-cultural organization accused unnamed parties of targeting individuals and businesses of southeastern origin under questionable legal pretexts. They demanded a full investigation into the circumstances surrounding the demolition, warning that such actions could inflame ethnic tensions if left unchecked.

Despite the growing public and legal uproar, the Lagos State Government has issued a denial of involvement. According to statements from official channels, no state agency participated in the demolition exercise. This response has only intensified the mystery and drawn more scrutiny to the manner in which the judgment was executed.

Observers say the case could become a litmus test for judicial accountability and property rights enforcement in Lagos, especially in light of the legal concerns raised. The battle now appears set to play out in the courts, where both legal principles and public interest hang in the balance.

As legal arguments unfold, many are watching closely to see whether the court will uphold the current judgment, set it aside, or open the door to a full trial. For Ndibe Obi and Next Foods Ltd, the outcome will not only determine the future of the demolished property but could also set a precedent for how property rights are protected or violated in Nigeria's commercial capital.