The MAGODO estate saga and what you should know before buying Real Estate in Nigeria

In 1984, the military government in Lagos state forcefully seized and demolished some plots of land belonging to some owners in Shangisha area of the state.

The military originally acquired the Saudi Land for public use (lawful) The military however, contrary to the public use, later sold the land to government officials and their associations. This sale angered the true owners of the land, shangisha landlords association.

They approached the court for redress. Even though the matter were still in court, the Lagos state government was still bust cashing out and selling plots and plots of lands. Land that was still in court and of course, people were busy buying ignorantly without proper documentations (ignorance of the law is not an excuse) .

The matter was finally decided by the supreme Court which mandated the Lagos state government to give back the said plots of lands (549 plots) to the original owners (Shangisha landlords association) with immediate effect. Despite this judgment being handed down six years ago, Lagos state government still refused to willingly execute the court judgment.

However, on the 21st of December 2021, the court bailiff accompanied by some policemen went to finally execute the court's judgments. The houses situated in the affected areas have been marked for demolition. This means that those currently occupying the land are to vacate immediately.

FATE OF THE ILLEGAL OCCUPANTS

The illegal occupants can only pray that the Lagos state government settle the shangisha landlords association as they have done in a similar case in the past. (Ojora's 2014). Of course, we expect a series of laws and court orders. But this headache would have been avoided if the right thing was done by the illegal occupants.

MORAL OF THE STORY

Never buy land that is a subject of litigation. That is land still on court case, even if it is Government land, avoid it.

Always ask your Realtor and Lawyer to conduct adequate and sufficient due diligence. Spend the small money and save yourself from many years of developing waste.

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