The Lagos state high court sitting has restrained all parties to suit LD/15449LMW/2024 including socialite and property developer, Sir Oluwatumininu O
The Lagos state high court sitting has restrained all parties to suit LD/15449LMW/2024 including socialite and property developer, Sir Oluwatumininu Okeowo, from tampering with a building known as Plot 15a and 15b Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State belonging to Manna Real Estate Company Limited.
Honourable Justice E. O. Ashade, who made the order, directed the parties to explore mediation at Lagos State Multi-Door Court House, LMDC, for amicable resolution of the dispute between them as the parties are family members.
The judge made the order on March 19, 2025, following a Motion on Notice dated 11/07/2024, filed by the 1st to 3rd claimants; Manna Real Estate Company Ltd, Sir Olu’s siblings, Toluola Babarinde nee Okeowo and Temitope Solabi nee Okeowo.
The 1st and 2nd defendants are Sir Olu and his company, Gibraltar Construction Limited.
Upon reading the applicants affidavit, Justice Ashade ordered as follows:
“Both parties to this suit including their officers, privies, agents, associates, nominees, servants or any other person howsoever described and called are restrained from entry, clearing, fencing, destroying, removing the 1st Claimant’s building and structures on the subject matters of this suit known as Plot 15a and 15b Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State formerly Waring Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State with registered title number LO5312 dated 27/12/1963 pending the final determination of the substantive suit.
“Both parties to this suit whether by themselves, their agents, servants and associates are also restraining from continuing with any construction or development, selling, leasing, transferring, alienating and disposing the subjecting matter of this suit or any part thereof being at Plot 15a and 15b Bayo Kuku Road, Ikoyi, Lagos State formerly Waring Road, with the registered title number LO5312 dated 27/12/1963 pending the final determination of this substantive suit.
“Parties are directed to explore mediation at Lagos State Multi-Door Court House (LMDC) for amicable resolution of the dispute between them. Suit is adjourned to 05/06/2025 for Report of settlement or CMC.”
Recall that in 2024, Sir Olu dragged his siblings, including Joe Faraday, a company belonging to his brother, Joshua Okeowo, also a property developer whose company was in charge of the seven-storey building which collapsed in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos in April 2023, while still under construction, killing two site workers and injuring several others.
Sir Olu was claiming N100 million in damages over an alleged false and libelous publication regarding the estate of their late father, Sir Taiwo Okeowo.
In the suit, Sir Olu sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing libelous statements against him. He also prayed the court to compel the defendants to disclose evidence that he forged a Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy over a property in Ikoyi, Lagos.
However, the defendants, in their statement of defence, denied making any unprovoked assault or orchestrated smear campaign against Sir Olu’s character. They stated that they did not malign or defame Sir Olu in any manner. The defendants further stated that they did not author the purported internet publication titled Sir Taiwo Okeowo Estate Brief or engage in a campaign of calumny against Okeowo.
They explained that the letter dated October 5, 2022, referenced in the statement of claim, was written on their authorization as shareholders and directors of Manna Real Estate Company Limited and Metal Construction West Africa Ltd, and beneficiaries of the Estate of their father’s estate.
In their counterclaim, the defendants alleged that since their father’s death in 2003, no letters of administration were granted to anyone to administer the estate. They alleged that Sir Olu has been diverting assets of the estate to his personal use and has been illegally managing the assets of the estate without their consent or authority.
The defendants prayed the court for a declaration that they, together with Sir Olu, are jointly entitled to the distribution of the assets of the estate of their late father. They also sought an order directing Sir Olu to render a proper account of his management of the estate and an order appointing the Administrator-General of Lagos State to take over the management of the assets of the estate.
