By Lukman Olabiyi
A businessman, Mallam Sadiq Eldau, has filed a suit against the chairman of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Col. M. M. Abdullahi (retd), and four others before the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, over the ownership of a plot of land in Lekki, Lagos State.
Others dragged before the court by the businessman are: Alhaji Aboki Abdullahi, Innocent Achi, the registrar of titles, Land Bureau Services, Lagos State, and incorporated trustees of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
All the parties are currently in a legal battle before Justice Sherifat Solebo over ownership of a plot at Block 114, Plot 1, Lekki Scheme 1, Victoria Island.
According to the claimant in his amended statement of claim before the court, he bought the land through the alleged agent of the NDLEA boss, Abdullahi, who is the second respondent in the suit.
The businessman averred that, sometime in 2005, Abdullahi approached him with an offer to sell the property, which is the subject matter of the suit, claiming that the NDLEA boss, who owned the land, had died but was survived by his wife and one Mrs. Abdallah.
The claimant averred that he was informed by the second respondent that the said Mrs. Abdallah, by a power of attorney dated March 22, 2004, authorised the second respondent to sell the land on her behalf and the sum of N35 millions was agreed as the price, which the claimant paid and a deed of assignment was prepared by the agent, as evidence of the transaction.
The businessman stated that he invested heavily on the land by securing it and also applied for the certificate of occupancy (C of O).
Since 2005 when he bought the land from the agent, he said that he had no problems concerning the property until 2009, when the third respondent appeared to claim ownership of the land.
Eldau said that it was Achi who informed him that the NDLEA boss was not dead and was the one who sold the land to him.