A law firm based in Abuja, Ndarani San & Co. Chambers, has condemned what they describe as an illegal takeover attempt by the Honourable Minister of Works, Engr. David Umahi, on a property lawfully acquired and developed in Okun Ajah community, Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos.

The law firm, in a statement, said the property in question was legitimately allocated by the Lagos State Government to a consortium of investors after fulfilling all necessary legal and regulatory requirements.

The investors had invested over $250 million into developing the property, backed by valid documentation and approvals from relevant authorities.

However, the legal practitioners allege that Minister Umahi has unlawfully encroached upon the land, deviating from the approved gazette route for a federal road project, with approximately seven kilometres off course, falsely claiming it is federal government land without constitutional authority.

According to the statement, on May 4th, armed men in military uniform invaded the construction site and assaulted and abducted a worker, Mr Olamide Obanla, who has been missing since then.

They assert that the minister’s actions constitute a blatant violation of property rights and bypassing of legal protocols.

Ndarani San & Co. Chambers warned that such illegal acts threaten investor confidence and undermine the rule of law in Nigeria.

They, however, called on federal authorities to halt the illegal encroachment, respect lawful property rights, and resolve the dispute through lawful channels.

The law firm emphasised that if the authorities fail to take decisive action, it intends to pursue all available legal remedies, including judicial review and international mechanisms, to protect its clients’ rights and interests.

Reacting to the statement, the media aide to the Federal Minister of Works, Mr Uchenna Orji, said such statements are politically motivated fabrications to dent the reputation of the Minister of Works.

He stated that the Minister of Works is guided by the policies of the Renewed Hope Administration and the nationwide road construction and implementation programme. The Coastal Highway, as you know, is a new road project initiated by this administration. Its primary goal is to expand the country’s transportation infrastructure.

“Of course, you know that the alignment, some parts were adjusted, especially the part of Lagos, to ensure that there are no much collateral damage, both on the national communication facilities and the buildings, the developed properties of individuals. The entire policy is geared towards ensuring that there is a human face in the entire construction process, and that the Honourable Minister has followed it religiously.

“There are others who felt aggrieved; they went to court, were waiting for the outcome, or couldn’t speak about it. So, if the lawyer has gone to court, how can we speak about the matter that is already in court? If he has not gone to court, the best thing he should do is to go to court, and ensure he exhausts or ventilates his grievances through the legal means, and not to begin to judge the Honourable Minister on the pages of newspapers or in social media.

“What the Honourable Minister is doing is to ensure that the policy of the government, the mandate of the Minister of Works, is really executed. And the whole essence is to ensure that our road network is expanded to restore the confidence of road users. He’s not building it for himself. And I can assure you that once the road is being done, certainly some people will be affected, lands will be affected, because it’s not to be done in the air or water,” he said.