Demolition Drama: How Obi stopped take over of brother’s Lagos property

By Olisemeka Obeche

In a shocking turn of events that has sent ripples through the political and business landscape of Lagos and Nigeria, Peter Obi, the resilient Labour Party presidential candidate of the 2023 election, has taken a stand against a brazen attempt by some people to wrest control of a valuable property belonging to Next Foods Limited—a company primarily owned by his younger brother, Ndibe Obi.

The former Governor of Anambra State was thrust into the center of a high-stakes drama as he intervened to stop the demolition of a prime property located at No. 57, Oduduwa Crescent in the upscale Ikeja GRA.

The demolition had began on June 23, 2025, based on a dubious court judgment that allegedly transferred ownership to one Deborah Olorunlogbon.

Obi’s legal challenge is a vehement rebuke of the court’s apparent neglect of proper legal procedures, particularly its bewildering designation of the defendant as an “unknown person,” while Olorunlogbon was named as the claimant.

The shocking nature of the situation unfolded as Ndibe Obi, who had been the rightful occupant of the property since its acquisition in 2011, was blindsided by the claimants until arrival of bulldozers.

Alarmed and confused, he reached out to Peter Obi, igniting a fervent response from the seasoned politician.

Arriving at the scene amidst the chaos of demolition around 9:30 a.m. on June 24, Peter Obi confronted the site contractor, insisting, “This property belongs to Next Foods Limited, and my brother is the majority shareholder. You are not dealing with an ‘unknown person’ here!”
His authoritative tone left no room for ambiguity.

Determined to halt the demolition, OBI later tendered a court injunction which prohibited any further destruction. He resolutely decided to stay on-site, refusing to leave until the relevant court documents were acknowledged.

After overcoming fierce opposition from an agent representing the claimant—who attempted to block media coverage of the unfolding events—Obi spoke passionately to reporters, relaying the extraordinary circumstances that led to this confrontation.

“This property clearly belongs to Next Foods Limited, where my brother is the principal shareholder. Just yesterday, he frantically called me, reporting that intruders had invaded his company’s property, removing the roof and wreaking havoc. They claimed they had a court injunction granting them rights over the property,” Obi recounted, visibly agitated.

Detailing his swift response, he continued, “I was en route to Abuja for a meeting but turned around to come here. When I arrived, I confronted the demolition crew, demanding to see the court documents that supposedly entitle them to claim this property. To my astonishment, the papers indicated they were pursuing an action against an ‘unknown person.’”

“Is this the kind of legal absurdity we now tolerate?” Obi demanded. “How can someone lay claim to a physical structure while designating their legal opponent as an unknown entity? This embodies the rampant impunity that we face in our nation. If we’re striving for a climate that welcomes foreign investment, we must protect local investors from such outrageous acts.”

Obi persisted, demanding to know the true identity of the individual attempting to establish ownership. “The crew on-site claimed they were merely hired hands. I asked each person present, and one admitted he wasn’t the owner but was acting on behalf of someone else. Where is the actual owner? They must show their face and provide legitimate documentation to validate their claims. This property cannot be summarily claimed by an unknown entity. It belongs to a legitimate company!”

As the dust settles, the unfolding saga continues to highlight the struggle for justice and due process in a society fraught with legal challenges and questionable practices. The stakes are high, and Peter Obi’s determined stand against the demolition is a clarion call for accountability and justice in Nigeria.