Lagos bizwoman in tears over property demolition notice, Neitzen reacts

A businesswoman, identified simply as @lashiskin_ on Instagram, has been traumatised after a demolition notice was issued by the Lagos State Government on the building her family purchased in the Eti Osa Local Government Area of the state.

According to Punch, the fair-skinned lady, who, based on her Instagram profile, indicated that she was into the skincare business, was seen shedding tears uncontrollably over the development in a viral video she posted on her page late Sunday.

In the video, the businesswoman was heard lamenting that her family purchased the property in February 2024, adding that all their hard work was expended on its purchase.

She said, “We bought our property in February and we have only been there for two months. All the hard work, all the sleepless nights, everything… If you are in Lagos, you know how much property in Eti Osa costs.

“Each time my son sees me crying, he always asks me why I am crying: ‘Mummy, you’ve been crying.’ How do I explain this to my son? How? What do I tell my children?

“I am trying to be a strong woman but this is very painful and I don’t wish anybody pain like that. I don’t wish anybody to work so hard, so tirelessly and face something like this. I don’t.”

A screenshot showing what was inscribed on the wall of the building was also seen in the video. Details of what was inscribed on the wall of the building read: “Eti-Osa LG. 07-05-24. Remove.”

Reacting to her post on Instagram, one Olabimpe Adeyemi, using her handle, @olabimpeadeyemi_, appealed to the businesswoman to take things easy because of her children.

“Oh God!! So sorry, Lashi. Please take it easy for the sake of your children. You are alive, and you will get more properties in your desired places. Dead people don’t buy properties. Please take care of yourself! Sorry, dear,” Adeyemi wrote.

Another handle, @myfavouritead, while reacting to the businesswoman’s ordeal, wrote, “Hello. Have you thought about the possibility that the previous owners were notified and sold the property as a result? The former owners may have transferred the liability to you. Consult a lawyer.”

Chijioke Ojukwu, using his handle, @cjojukwu, in his reaction, said the demolition notice signified that the seller had no valid title to transfer the property to the businesswoman.

“Go after your developer. It means he has no valid title to transfer to you and the warranty of no encumbrance and adverse consequences have been violated,” Ojukwu noted.

Commenting on the case, a lawyer and rights activist, Inibehe Effiong, said before purchasing a property, especially in a commercial environment like Lagos, due diligence should be conducted to ascertain not only that the property had good title or that the intending seller had good title, but also that there was no encumbrance on the property.

He said, “Have you seen the demolition notice? What was the reason given for the planned demolition by the government? That is what would determine the legality of the demolition. We have to ascertain why the property is being marked for demolition.

“Whether it is being marked for compulsory acquisition or whether it is due to violation of building laws or town planning laws. It is important to ascertain that. Generally, before someone purchases a property, especially in a commercial environment like Lagos, the buyer is supposed to do due diligence to ascertain not only that the property has good title or that the intending seller has good title, but also that there is no encumbrance on the property.

“Encumbrance in the sense of the property is not under government acquisition, or it is not located in a government Right of Way, which is when the government has already acquired a property or designated an area for road construction or some other public infrastructure and does not carry it out even after paying compensation.”

Effiong said he once had reasons to do due diligence for a client who wanted to purchase a property at Ibeju Lekki and through the due diligence, he discovered that the property the person wanted to sell at a giveaway price had been acquired by the government.

He added, “So, it is very important for people that want to acquire property to ensure that they retain the services of solicitors to do due diligence for them. But what you find in Nigeria is that people only appreciate the services of legal practitioners when a crisis arises, whereas lawyers are supposed to ensure that crisis is prevented. Some even buy property without bothering to involve lawyers.

“In her case, I don’t know whether a lawyer was involved, I don’t know what due diligence they did. But if her case is within the context I just gave, she can sue the seller because, in every deed of assignment that is prepared to transfer interest, there is usually an indemnity clause to indemnify the buyer if there is a defect to the title.

“If in this case that property was under government acquisition or constructed in government Right of Way, the buyer has a right to sue the seller to indemnify her and the seller would be bound to refund the purchasing price and even pay damages if the matter goes to court. So, she is not without a remedy but that would be if it were under the circumstances in which I have described.”

The state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, when contacted, promised to find out about the incident.

“I will find out what happened,” he said.