Lagos Landlord, Tenants Cry Out Over Alleged Police Harassment.
According to a report by Vanguard Newspaper on Thursday, July 24, 2025, detectives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, have arrested several police officers accused of providing protection to thugs who attempted to forcibly demolish a warehouse at 50A Industrial Estate, Morrison Crescent, Oregun, Alausa, Ikeja.
The operation, allegedly initiated at the request of a woman claiming ownership of the property, led to the invasion of the premises last week. Thugs reportedly expelled business occupants, vandalized goods mainly furniture and partially pulled down the warehouse structure before the FCID intervened.
Addressing journalists on the incident, Mr. Babajide Doherty, co-owner of the warehouse, accused the woman who initially leased the warehouseof resorting to force, deception, and intimidation instead of abiding by the lease terms. According to Doherty, the woman had misled both law enforcement and the judiciary with false ownership claims.
He explained that the dispute dates back to 2014, when a 50-year Deed of Sublease was signed between the trustees of the late Chief Doherty’s estate and the woman. The lease, structured in five ten-year terms, came with an annual rent of ₦250,000 per acre for the first decade, totaling ₦445,750 per annum for the full 1.795-acre property. Doherty alleged that the lessee paid only ₦250,000 initially and defaulted on the balance, with no subsequent rent payments made.
He further revealed that the woman illegally sublet portions of the warehouse without consent, leasing to Wow Creamery Limited for \$69 million under a three-year deal and Svengali Designs Limited for ₦25 million on a one-year lease.
“When we approached the court to revoke the lease, she retaliated with false police petitions and orchestrated thug invasions to disrupt business activities,” Doherty said. “They even presented a different person as the property owner, locked up the premises, removed valuable equipment, and brought in a bulldozer to demolish the roof—clear acts of malicious damage.”
Doherty emphasized that the legal battle is currently ongoing before Justices M.O. Daudu and O.O. Ogunjobi at the Lagos High Court under Suit Nos. ID/ARR/2860/2024 and LD/4201LM/2023, respectively. He called on the FCID to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring all culprits to justice to prevent further exploitation of innocent Nigerians.
Tenants affected by the saga also shared their experiences. Mr. Anselem Tabansi, CEO of Svengali Designs Ltd., said he leased part of the warehouse for ₦25 million annually in late 2021 through an agent. Efforts to contact the property owner before payment were unsuccessful, as the agent claimed she avoided direct contact with tenants. However, three months later, he received a legal notice revealing the agent had no authority to broker the lease.
The incident has drawn attention to the rising concerns over property fraud, abuse of power, and alleged collusion with security forces in land disputes across Lagos.
Lagos Landlord, Tenants Cry Out Over Alleged Police Harassment.
According to a report by Vanguard Newspaper on Thursday, July 24, 2025, detectives from the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Alagbon, Lagos, have arrested several police officers accused of providing protection to thugs who attempted to forcibly demolish a warehouse at 50A Industrial Estate, Morrison Crescent, Oregun, Alausa, Ikeja.
The operation, allegedly initiated at the request of a woman claiming ownership of the property, led to the invasion of the premises last week. Thugs reportedly expelled business occupants, vandalized goods mainly furniture and partially pulled down the warehouse structure before the FCID intervened.
Addressing journalists on the incident, Mr. Babajide Doherty, co-owner of the warehouse, accused the woman who initially leased the warehouseof resorting to force, deception, and intimidation instead of abiding by the lease terms. According to Doherty, the woman had misled both law enforcement and the judiciary with false ownership claims.
He explained that the dispute dates back to 2014, when a 50-year Deed of Sublease was signed between the trustees of the late Chief Doherty’s estate and the woman. The lease, structured in five ten-year terms, came with an annual rent of ₦250,000 per acre for the first decade, totaling ₦445,750 per annum for the full 1.795-acre property. Doherty alleged that the lessee paid only ₦250,000 initially and defaulted on the balance, with no subsequent rent payments made.
He further revealed that the woman illegally sublet portions of the warehouse without consent, leasing to Wow Creamery Limited for \$69 million under a three-year deal and Svengali Designs Limited for ₦25 million on a one-year lease.
“When we approached the court to revoke the lease, she retaliated with false police petitions and orchestrated thug invasions to disrupt business activities,” Doherty said. “They even presented a different person as the property owner, locked up the premises, removed valuable equipment, and brought in a bulldozer to demolish the roof—clear acts of malicious damage.”
Doherty emphasized that the legal battle is currently ongoing before Justices M.O. Daudu and O.O. Ogunjobi at the Lagos High Court under Suit Nos. ID/ARR/2860/2024 and LD/4201LM/2023, respectively. He called on the FCID to thoroughly investigate the matter and bring all culprits to justice to prevent further exploitation of innocent Nigerians.
Tenants affected by the saga also shared their experiences. Mr. Anselem Tabansi, CEO of Svengali Designs Ltd., said he leased part of the warehouse for ₦25 million annually in late 2021 through an agent. Efforts to contact the property owner before payment were unsuccessful, as the agent claimed she avoided direct contact with tenants. However, three months later, he received a legal notice revealing the agent had no authority to broker the lease.
The incident has drawn attention to the rising concerns over property fraud, abuse of power, and alleged collusion with security forces in land disputes across Lagos.
