A Lagos-based under the aegis of the Defenders of Al-Trade Agencies Limited, has debunked the reports making the round that the proprietor of Al-Trade Agencies Limited and a Federal Government land officer were arrested by the Police on the orders of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The group told journalists in Lagos at the weekend that there is no iota of truth in the said report, adding that it was a concocted and fabricated story, designed to tarnish the image and reputation of the proprietor of Al-Trade Agencies Limited, Mr Julius Eshiet and Alabi Collins, a Director of the Federal Ministry of Land, who are defendants in a civil land case in a Lagos court.
“In a bid to damage the name of the defendants and mislead the public, news was orchestrated to the general public that the said persons have been arraigned. It is to be corrected however that No Arraignment took place,” said Victor Patrick, the leader of the group, “hence it was necessary to put the record straight before the public.”
On the case in question, His Lordship, Hon. Justice A.O Idowu of the High Court of Lagos State stated clearly that the case file be returned to the Administrative Judge for reassignment to a Judge in the Riminal Division and the defendants were released.
The purported information filed against the defendants bothers on and revolves around purported forceful land take over, forcible entry, illegal occupation, conspiracy, unlawful interference with property amongst others in respect of a plot of land in Ikeja area of Lagos.
Patrick said that the landed property which is the subject matter of those purported offences is covered by Certificate of Occupancy (C-of-O) issued by Federal Government of Nigeria to the 2nd Defendant. By the records, the Federal Government of Nigeria has been in possession of the land, prior to the issuance of the C-of-O to Al-Trade Agencies Limited. It was issued by the Federal Government of Nigeria in favour of Al-Trade Agencies Limited.
The land is already a civil dispute before Honourable Justice A.M. Lawal of the Land Division of the High Court of Lagos State in Suit Number Suit No. ID/14061LMW/2023 – VIAGEM PROPERTY AND INVESTMENTS LIMITED v AL-TRADE AGENCIES LIMITED & 3ORS and the case was adjourned to 26th September 2025.
While the civil case is on-going, both principal disputants in respect of the land: AL-TRADE and VIAGEM filed a similar application for injunction; the court gave a ruling for the protection of the property in that parties should not enter into the land and should not transfer title of the land to a third party pending the determination of the suit.
For the avoidance of doubt, here is the reproduction of the ruling of the Honourable Court: “…because the two sides are asking for the same Injunction, both asserting ownership of the same land and making similar accusation against each other, justice demands that the two sides be injuncted from the disputed property. The Claimant and the Defendants are accordingly restrained from entering, going into or remaining in possession of the property…The parties are also restrained from transferring title to a third party.”
The group said that notwithstanding the clear and unambiguous ruling, VIAGEM continue to build on the disputed land.
As the case has been adjourned to 26th September 2025, the group urged the Police to block the agents from gaining access to the landed property pending the determination by the court, adding that unauthorized entry to the land is tantamount to contempt of the court.
