Tetrazzini Foods Plc has brought accusations against former Transportation Minister Festus Porbeni, alleging an attempt to unlawfully claim a property on Wole Olateju Crescent, Lekki, Lagos. In a statement, Prince Don Okonkwo, Chairman of Tetrazzini Foods, refuted the claims made by Porbeni and the Good Governance Alliance Nigeria (GGA-N), branding them as groundless. Okonkwo affirmed that the rightful owner of the land is Drabella Nigeria Limited, which holds a legitimate Certificate of Occupancy issued by Lagos State.
According to Okonkwo, the property’s title is documented as Number 24 on Page 24 in Volume 1991, clearly confirming Drabella Nigeria Limited as the legitimate owner. He accused Porbeni of exploiting his influence to wrongfully occupy the land and collect rent from boat operators, presenting himself as the owner. Okonkwo emphasized that this was a blatant example of land grabbing, an issue that Lagos State has been actively working to eliminate.
“There is no court ruling in Nigeria that recognizes Admiral Porbeni (Rtd) as the rightful owner of the property, nor is there any ongoing legal challenge disputing Drabella Nigeria Limited’s ownership,” Okonkwo noted. He further highlighted that a Federal High Court ruling cited by Porbeni in Suit No FHC/L/CS/1384/2021 had been rendered void, as the court determined it lacked jurisdiction over land matters, which fall under the authority of state high courts.
Following these developments, the Lagos State Task Force on Land Grabbing stepped in, clearing unauthorized occupants from the site. Tetrazzini Foods indicated that the task force’s actions were in line with the government’s ongoing initiative to protect property rights and combat land grabbing.
Okonkwo also criticized the spread of misinformation related to the dispute, urging media outlets to verify details before publication. “We condemn the intentional spread of falsehoods designed to undermine the efforts of the Lagos State Government in defending property rights and tackling land grabbing. Accurate reporting is essential to prevent public deception and protect reputations,” the statement concluded.
This situation underscores the persistent challenges of land ownership disputes in Lagos and highlights calls for strengthened enforcement to curb illegal claims in the state’s competitive real estate market.
