Former presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Mr. Peter Obi, has raised alarm over what he described as a brazen act of lawlessness and abuse of human rights, following the demolition of a property owned by his younger brother’s company in Ikeja, Lagos.
In a statement released on Wednesday via his official social media handle, Obi recounted a disturbing sequence of events in which unknown persons allegedly invaded the premises of the property and began a demolition exercise without prior notice or a valid court order.
According to Obi, he was in Abuja when he received a frantic call from his youngest brother who had just arrived from Port Harcourt and was denied entry into the property by security operatives stationed at the site.
“This morning, my youngest brother called me frantically, informing me that a group of people had invaded his company property in Ikeja, Lagos, and were demolishing the building,” Obi said.
“He had just come in from Port Harcourt and was told by security men that the building was being pulled down. He was not even allowed to enter.”
The former Anambra State governor said he immediately travelled to Lagos to assess the situation. Upon arrival, he said he was met with resistance from security personnel who attempted to prevent him from entering the premises.
Read also: Obidient movement halts donation drive for Peter Obi’s birthday
“I pleaded with them, explaining that the property belonged to my brother’s company and had been owned for over a decade,” he narrated.
“They claimed to have a court judgment, but when I demanded to see it, I was shocked to find that it was issued against an unnamed person, referred to only as a squatter. No demolition order, no permit, no due process.”
Obi expressed dismay at the level of impunity on display, questioning how a court could issue a judgment against an unidentified defendant and how such a verdict could be used to justify the demolition of a legally owned structure that has stood for over 15 years.
“How do you sue an unknown person? How does a court issue a judgment in such a farce of a case?” he asked. “No one was served, no names were listed. Yet they showed up with excavators and began destroying the building without any restraint.”
He added that attempts to speak with whoever authorized the demolition were unsuccessful. Despite waiting for hours at the site and leaving his contact information with the operators of the demolition equipment, Obi said no one came forward to claim responsibility.
“The contractor and the excavator operators claimed they didn’t know who sent them. Two men eventually showed up and asked us to go to a police station. But still, there was no court order, no demolition permit. It was a clear case of lawlessness,” he said.
Obi also reflected on a recent conversation he had with an investor who told him that, although Nigeria remains a profitable market, he would not consider investing in the country due to the prevailing climate of insecurity and lack of legal protection.
“He said he had investments in Ghana, Senegal, and the Benin Republic, but would not touch Nigeria,” Obi recalled.
“When I asked why, his answer was piercing: ‘Nigeria is a lawless country. Until we have laws that protect people, nobody will invest in Nigeria.’”
He warned that any nation where the rule of law is undermined cannot attract serious investors or ensure the safety and dignity of its citizens.
“Any society where lawlessness overrides the rule of law is not destined to be a haven for investors,” he stated. “Nigeria’s worsening human rights record shows serious failures in protecting civil liberties, personal safety, and basic standards of living.”
Obi, who contested the 2023 presidential election, lamented what he described as personal experiences of rights violations, which he says have intensified since joining politics.
“I know what I have been going through as a person in abuse of my human rights just because I contested a presidential election, which I have the legitimate right to do,” he said.
“If this can happen to someone with a registered company and legitimate means, what hope does the ordinary Nigerian have?”
Despite the ordeal, Obi reaffirmed his commitment to building a better country where justice, human rights, and the rule of law are upheld.
“I remain committed to a better Nigeria, where lawlessness will be a thing of the past, where lives and property are protected, where human rights are respected, and where every child has access to basic education,” he said.
Meanwhile, as of the time of filing this report, Lagos State authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the demolition.
