There was mild drama yesterday at the Lagos State High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) during the scheduled arraignment of two lawyers and a real estate developer, as one of the defendants assaulted The Guardian photojournalist, Ayodele Adeniran, for attempting to take his photograph.

The journalist was physically dragged and was only released after he showed the defendants his camera to prove that no photographs had been taken.

The defendants: Adebayo Akeju, a partner at Adon Partners; Ademola Owolabi, managing partner of Ademola Adetokunbo & Co.; and real estate developer, Alex Ochonogor are standing trial before Justice Serifat Sonaike on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit forgery, forgery, and wilful destruction of property.

The case, filed by the Lagos State Government under suit number LD/23611C/2024, stems from alleged illegal activities involving forged land documents and the demolition of property in the Lekki area.

When the case was called, the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr Babajide Martins, appeared for the state.

The first defendant was represented by Dr Abiodun Layonu (SAN), the second by A.A. Durojaiye, and the third by Tony Ejere.

Ejere informed the court that the third defendant, Ochonogor, was absent due to a medical emergency and had been rushed to Lagoon Hospital early in the morning. He requested an adjournment.

Martins did not oppose the request, stating: “The defendant needs to be alive to stand trial.”

Justice Sonaike granted the adjournment but emphasised that all necessary court filings must be completed before the next hearing.

The judge also directed counsel to the third defendant to ensure that his client appears before the court on the next adjourned date for his arraignment.

According to the charge sheet, the defendants are accused of conspiring in 2015 to forge an affidavit of loss and a demolition notice purportedly issued by the Lagos State Lands Bureau to falsely claim that a Certificate of Occupancy originally issued to one Hamza Al-Mustapha was missing.

They are further alleged to have forged a memorandum of loss for the same document and wilfully demolished a bungalow located at Plot 10, Block 133, Lekki Peninsula Residential Scheme 1.

The property reportedly belongs to Dr Obidigwe Eze, a Nigerian residing abroad.