Lagos Land Dispute Pits Cleric Against Longtime Resident Amid Alleged Intimidation
A long-running land dispute along the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway in the Ojokoro axis of Lagos has escalated into a bitter confrontation marked by allegations of land grabbing, intimidation and the controversial involvement of security personnel.
At the centre of the dispute is Mr Olalekan Ashamu, a resident of Shorunke Street near Adura Bus Stop, and Venerable Sunday Sowerun, a cleric who runs a Celestial Church of Christ cathedral in the same area. What had for years been a quiet, uncontested parcel of land has now become the subject of competing claims and mounting tension.
(Mr. Ashamu (right) with one of his workers)
Mr Ashamu told our correspondent that he purchased the land in question in 1998 from Mr Abiodun Joseph Olufemi, popularly known as Cosmos, the owner of Cosmos Hotel located around kilometre 30 of the Lagos–Abeokuta Expressway. He said the transaction, which cost ₦500,000 at the time, was properly concluded and that he has exercised control over the land ever since. For decades, he said, the property was used openly for auto mechanic activities without challenge or interference.
That relative calm, according to Mr Ashamu, ended last year when Venerable Sowerun allegedly began making moves that suggested an attempt to take over the land. He claimed that officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) were brought to the site to inspect and measure the property, an action he found puzzling and alarming in what he insists is a purely civil ownership matter.
(One of the receipts presented by Mr. Ashamu)
While acknowledging that Venerable Sowerun has been in the area longer and commands influence through his church, Mr Ashamu maintained that longevity and prominence cannot replace valid ownership documents. He alleged that many residents are reluctant to challenge the cleric because of his standing in the community, describing him as someone widely feared by landowners in the area, an allegation that remains unverified.
According to Mr Ashamu, Venerable Sowerun later contacted him and asked that he present documents proving ownership of the land. He said he requested time, explaining that he was indisposed and would make himself available the following week. He further alleged that during this exchange, the cleric demanded that he pay money in order to “reclaim” the land. Mr Ashamu said he flatly refused, insisting that he would not pay for property he bought nearly three decades ago.
Efforts at dialogue, he claimed, were unsuccessful. He said that he and his brother visited Venerable Sowerun’s church residence on three occasions, only to be told that he was not around. He further alleged that although the cleric later said he was ill and staying in Abule Egba, he declined their suggestion to meet him there to resolve the issue.
The dispute took a more disturbing turn when Mr Ashamu said he received a letter of eviction. He alleged that shortly afterwards, Venerable Sowerun arrived at the land accompanied by soldiers who sealed the property with aluminium sheets, locked it up and ordered that all mechanic activities on the site be halted. If accurate, the reported involvement of military personnel in a civil land dispute raises serious legal and ethical concerns.
Now in his late 60s, Mr Ashamu said he fears losing land he believes he has lawfully owned for almost 30 years. Visibly distressed, he appealed to the authorities and the wider public for intervention, saying he only wants the law to take its course.
Our correspondent also visited Venerable Sunday Sowerun at his Celestial Church of Christ residence. According to reporters on the ground, his first action was to seize their electronic devices. He declined to provide a detailed explanation about the ongoing dispute, but presented a survey plan dated 2022 and 2023 relating to a different streets in the area, asserting that it reflected official measurements relevant to his claims.
Venerable Sowerun told the reporters that he had repeatedly invited Mr Ashamu to his residence to negotiate a settlement over the land, claiming that the matter could have been resolved amicably if the meetings had occurred.
He described Mr Ashamu as avoiding these engagements. The cleric insisted that Mr Ashamu has no formal ownership documents for the property, and argued that the land was never legally transferred to him. Instead, he claimed that a person he identified as “Concord” had allowed Mr Ashamu to use the land, implying that his current occupation was without proper title.
He also highlighted his connections within the community and broader networks, suggesting that his influence should not be underestimated. While some might see this as an assertion of authority, it underscores the power dynamics at play in disputes over land in Lagos outskirts, where wealth, religious leadership, and social influence often intersect with legal ambiguities.
In contrast, High Chief Julius Aderemi Adeniyi, the Baale of the area, offered what he described as historical clarity. He confirmed that the land originally belonged to Mr Abiodun Joseph Olufemi, also known as Cosmos, and was legitimately sold to Mr Ashamu with proper receipts. He explained that the Oyero family, who owned significant portions of land in Ojokoro decades ago, had sold multiple parcels, and that the Cosmos sale to Ashamu was consistent with these transactions.
The Baale emphasized that Mr Ashamu still possesses the original receipts, which serve as legal evidence of ownership. He further cautioned that the figure referred to as “Concord” by Venerable Sowerun is known locally as a land grabber, a claim that casts doubt on the cleric’s version of events.
By providing historical context, the Baale positioned himself as a neutral arbiter, underscoring the importance of documented transactions and long-standing community knowledge in resolving disputes.
