An Igbosere High Court on Friday fixed February 7 for the adoption of final written addresses in a case of a N45 million property dispute involving the Director-General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyitolu.
Dr Oke-Osanyitolu and his former lover, Olaide Ibraheem, are in court over ownership of the plum property located at No. 1, Baba Yusuf Close, Alausa, Lagos.
Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye fixed the date after hearing submissions from the defence counsel, Adeoye Asaolu, and the lead state prosecutor, Akin George.
Ms Ibraheem is the Director, Admin and Human Resources in the Lagos State Office of Civic Engagement.
She was arraigned on May 22, 2017 and faces a three-count charge of forgery, forcible entry and criminal damage to the property which allegedly belongs to Oke-Sanyitolu.
During the trial, four witnesses, including Oke-Osanyitolu, his personal assistant and a signature expert, testified for the prosecution.
Six witnesses, including Ibraheem, a surveyor and a police officer testified on behalf of the defence.
In his testimony, Oke-Osanyitolu told the court that he and the defendant were former lovers and top civil servants working for the Lagos State Government.
He said that during the course of their relationship, he needed accommodation for his ailing mother and had sought Ibraheem’s help in getting accommodation.
Oke-Sanyitolu said the defendant negotiated the purchase of the property on his behalf for N45 million from the former owner, Baba Yusuf, in Kano.
The LASEMA DG told the court that he made payment for the property in instalments via Luqman Salami, his personal assistant, and that he paid a balance of N1. 5 million the day the Deed of Assignment was signed.
“Five people, including the defendant, were present when the Deed was signed but only four persons- myself, the owner of the property, Baba Yusuf, his son Musa Yusuf and Salami, my personal assistant signed the document,” he said.
According to Oke-Sanyitolu, following the breakdown of their relationship, the defendant in order to unlawfully lay claim to the property, fraudulently made another Deed of Assignment and forged his signature on the fake document.
He said that Ibraheem, with the aid of hoodlums, also unlawfully broke into and took possession of the property.
The LASEMA chief noted that when he reported his ex-lover’s actions to the authorities, she threatened his life and said she will show him “the power of women”.
Ibraheem, while testifying in her defence, said the property belonged to her.
She said that when she wanted to buy the property, she visited Baba Musa, the former owner of the property in Kano.
“However, he had said that due to religious reasons, he could not sell the property to a woman, unless she came with her spouse,” she said.
Ibraheem said that obliging to the requests of Baba Musa, Oke-Sanyitolu accompanied her to buy the property.
The defendant in her version of events said that four persons– herself, the owner of the property, his son and Oke-Sanyitolu signed the Deed of Assignment while Salami, Oke-Sanyitolu’s personal assistant was a witness.
She said that after the end of their relationship, she got wind of the fact that Oke-Sanyitolu had procured another Deed of Assignment for the property.
Ibraheem noted that the new Deed did not contain her signature and that he was trying to register the new Deed at the Lagos State Ministry of Lands.
The director denied taking over the property illegally from the complainant.
According to the prosecution, Ibraheem allegedly committed the offences in September 2015 at the disputed property.
The alleged offences contravene Sections 52, 339 and 365(3) of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
