A landlord in Banana Island, Lagos, Dr. Ifeanyi Odii, has raised concerns over an alleged secret plot to sell a disputed property currently under litigation. The property, located at Plot B-7, 327 Close, Zone B, Banana Island, is subject to a legal case in the Lagos High Court (Suit No. LD/12277GCMW/2024). Dr. Odii is contesting the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Fandago Properties Ltd. over what he deems an unlawful approval and construction of a six-storey building that allegedly contravenes the Ikoyi-Victoria Island Model City Plan for 2013–2033. Despite a reported stop-work order from the authorities issued on September 2, 2024, construction is said to have continued unabated, further intensifying the dispute.
Odii’s legal team claims the development violates zoning rules, exceeds height and density limits, and invades the privacy of surrounding homeowners. The landlord argues that the construction disregards the Banana Island master plan and presents environmental and legal risks. Asserting the illegality of the project, Odii emphasizes that it not only compromises airspace and neighboring properties but also disregards due process. He insists that no form of negotiation will be entertained unless the structure aligns strictly with the approved building plan and urban development regulations.
Alarmed by rumors of the property being marketed for sale, Odii issued a public warning through his legal counsel, Joseph Igwe of Monday Ubani & Co. He alerted potential buyers and real estate agents to the ongoing litigation and its serious implications. The statement cautioned that any transaction involving the property while the case is pending would be considered legally risky and potentially fraudulent. It invoked the principle of lis pendens, which holds that purchasers of a litigated property assume the seller’s legal burden and are bound by the outcome of the court case, regardless of their awareness or intentions.
