An aggrieved Ibadan-based lawyer, Olusegun Abayomi, has sued the Oyo State Government and an estate developer to court, seeking N1 billion damages over his property allegedly destroyed by the Ibadan South-West Local Government in connivance with the state government in Ibadan last week.
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This came as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Dr. Kayode Opeifa, appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to call the local government chairman to order to avoid breakdown of law and order.
Abayomi dragged Makinde, the Attorney General of the state; Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development; his Environment and Natural Resources counterpart; the Commissioner for Police; the chairman of the local government, an estate developer, and two others to court for allegedly destroying his newly constructed multi-million Naira office complex in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Located near rail tracks in the Ago Taylor area of Ibadan, the building sits on a piece of land leased from the Railway Property Management Company Ltd.
Abayomi explained in his statement of claim that the defendants, supported by policemen, thugs and Amotekun personnel, demolished a substantial part of the office complex on Monday February 2 despite the land originally belonging to the Railway Property Management Company Ltd. He stated that he acquired the land from the person who leased it from the Railway company, adding that he obtained all required approvals from the same Ibadan South West Local Government, the NRC and its property management firm before commencing construction.
Abayomi further explained that he built the structures within the ambit of the approval given by relevant agencies.
According to him, the problem started when the developer, who is building a residential estate on another part of the railway land, approached him, requesting him to release the property to him for use as an additional access road to the estate in exchange for two plots of land in the estate, but he refused. He said the developer then vowed to use his connections with the state government to ensure the demolition of his building.
The statement of claim read in part “The claimant avers that when he was about completing the building, the 6th Defendant (developer) approached him and told him that he has interest in the property because he needs an additional access road to his Brooks Estate which was under construction, which he also leased from Railway Property Management Company Limited. He offered to give the Claimant two plots of land in his Brook Estate if the Claimant can relinquish his rights to the land to him.
“The Claimant states that he rejected the offer of the 6th Defendant and the 6th Defendant became furious and started bragging that he will use his network and connection with the 1s, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th Defendants to frustrate the Claimant and ensure the demolition of the property of the Claimant. He did not mince words when telling the Claimant that he has given all the other Defendants lands in his Brook Estate and he is ready to spend millions of naira to ensure that he brings the Claimant’s property down.
“The Claimant avers that he took the threat of the 6th Defendant with a wave of hand, believing the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th 7th and 8th Defendants have no business with the land, particularly that the land originally belongs to the Nigerian Railway Corporation.”
The lawyer also revealed that the building was for his law office and that its official opening was slated for April before it was demolished.
Already, an Oyo State High Court has granted an ex parte order on February 9, 2026, restraining the defendants from further demolishing, disturbing or tampering with the property in any way pending hearing and determination of the motion on notice dated February 3, 2026.
In the suit, the lawyer is praying the court for declarations that he has the right to acquire through leasehold the property, and cannot be deprived of that right without the due process of law; that the demolition is unlawful, illegal, unconstitutional, and a violation of his rights.
He is seeking an order compelling the defendants to rebuild his property, pay him N1 billion in general damages, and publish a public apology in two national newspapers, among others.
Meanwhile, Opeifa, in a February 3 press release, condemned the destruction of railway properties allegedly carried out by suspected thugs during the demolition of Abayomi’s building.
In the release signed by the Chief Public Relations Officer, Mr Callistus Unyimadu, the NRC MD described as worrisome the report of destruction and removal of railway fixed assets worth millions of Naira.
The release partly read: “During the incident, NRC rail assets, including rails, sleepers, signal poles, billboards, as well as fences belonging to NRC tenants along the corridor, were reportedly destroyed and carted away. The Corporation stated that the affected area is a clearly defined and statutorily protected railway right-of-way.
The NRC Police Command’s efforts to repel the action were reportedly resisted, forcing the officers to withdraw from the scene.”
The NRC boss described the incident as a grave violation of federal railway assets and stated that it is documenting the matter comprehensively.
Opeifa assured that the corporation will pursue appropriate security, administrative, and legal actions to safeguard its assets and prevent future encroachments on railway right-of-way nationwide, especially in the case of this act of vandalism.
He appealed to Seyi Makinde to call the Ibadan SouthWest Local Government Chairman to order, to avert a breakdown of law and order and the continued abuse of the fundamental rights of Railway workers.
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