Business
Fraudulent Land Transaction: Diamond Bank in Legal Battle to Save Regional Office.
A Lagos High Court, sitting at Ikeja, south west Nigeria, has adjourned for ruling to decide either to stay the execution of its judgement or not in a case of illegal acquiring landed property of a deceased Lagos businessman by Diamond bank Plc.
The court adjourned for ruling after hearing the argument of the two parties, Diamond bank contended that been dissatisfied with the judgement of the court has lodged an appeal at the appellate court while the claimants are claiming that the claimants should relinquish the possession of the house while the appeal is on going.
The court presided over by Justice Atinuke Oluyemi in a judgement delivered sometimes last year barred Diamond Bank Plc and Ablag Company Nigeria Limited from trespassing on a landed property located at 105, St. Finbarrs Road, near CMS Grammar School, Bariga Lagos state.
In her judgment, Justice Oluyemi upheld the case of the claimants, saying that the purported purchase of the property between 2006 and 2007 by the bank was invalid.
The court also awarded a cost of N50,000 against bank and the company.
Justice Oluyemi affirmed that the property located on 105, St. Finbarrs’ road, Bariga, Lagos, covered by a Deed of Conveyance dated November 20, 1967, and registered as number 25, at page 25 in volume 1292 in the office of the Land Registry, Alausa, Lagos, was legally vested in the property owners’ deceased father, Anicetus Ibhagbe Eikore.
“From the evidence before the court, I concur with the claimant’s final written address. The case of claimant succeeds. The property located on 105, St. Finbarrs’ road, Bariga, Lagos, covered by a Deed of Conveyance dated November 20, 1967, and registered as number 25, at page 25 in volume 1292 in the office of the Land Registry, Alausa, Lagos, is for the children of the deceased,” Justice Oluyemi said.
Diamond Bank Plc was dragged before the court by ten children of a deceased Lagos businessman Anicetus Ibhagbe Eikore, for allegedly demolishing their family house and using the land to build its regional headquarters.
The court was urged to resolve the controversy that led to the whole transaction, as the bank in its statement of defence averred that they purchased the house from the deceased in 2007 and thereafter erected its own building. But the children of the deceased averred that it was not possible for their father who died at Lagos Teaching Hospital, LUTH, Idi-Araba in Lagos on 2 November, 1990 at the age of 80 years with a letter of confirmation of death from the same hospital to have sold his house to the bank in 2007,seventeen years after his death,thereby alleging fraud.
Consequently, in a bid to reclaim their inheritance from Diamond Bank Plc the family of the late Anicetus Ibhagbe Eikore, commenced a legal battle before a High Court of Lagos, sitting at Ikeja, against the bank.
Joined as co-defendant in the suit is a limited liability company, Ablag Company Nigeria Limited, which was alleged to have served as vendor for the purchase of the property.
The deceased’s family of 10 among whom are Mrs. Rita Obhimon, Tony Eikore, Mrs. Veronica Afamah, Boniface Eikore, Miss Agnes Eikore, Augustine Eikore, Mrs. Philomena Adebowale, Mrs. Bose Isibor, Mrs. Ede Agbonhese, and Miss Lucy Eikore, in an amended statement of claim filed before the court by their lawyer, Barrister Jide Zaid, stated that the land and building was legally vested in their deceased father, the late Anicetus Ibhagbe Eikore, who died intestate on November 2, 1990.The claimants also stated that upon the death of their father in 1990, they mutually allowed the eldest son in the family, John Osemeahon Eikore, to live in the property in order to protect the estate on their behalf and that the said John Eikore was living in the property since 1991, until sometime in December 2007, when one of them, Miss Lucy Eikore told them that the said property had been demolished and rebuilt by Diamond Bank as its Regional headquarters office.
After notifying the family members, they called on their eldest brother, John Eikore informing him of the alleged unlawful trespass by the bank on their land.They added that all efforts made to invite the said John Eikore to a family meeting for the purpose of clarifying his dealing with the bank in respect of the property proved abortive, as his new residence and whereabouts became unknown to them.The claimants also stated that the bank’s dealing in respect of their family property is unlawful, reckless, speculative and gold-digging, as diligent and honest enquiry by the bank or its solicitors would have revealed that Mr. John Eikore could not have posed as the owner of their family property which was duly registered in 1967 and that subsequent investigation into the bank’s acts of trespassing on their land revealed that second defendant Ablag Nigeria Limited acted as front for some directors of the bank who purportedly bought the house with a deposit of N100,000, from a man who claimed to be their late father, Mr. Anicetus Eikore, who died intestate on November 2, 1990.They further stated that Slag Company,subsequently sold their family house to the Bank for the sum of N25 million, out of which they gave the impersonator and his agent the sum of N16,900,000 thereby making a whopping profit of N8 million from the illegal deal with the family property.
The claimants added that their late father who died intestate on November 2, 1990, could not have possibly sold or transferred any valid legal equitable title to either Diamond Bank or Ablag Company in 2006 or 2007, and that the purported unregistered and undated Deeds of Assignment between their father and the defendants is incurably defective, null and void. Consequently, the claimants were seeking a declaration that their family property could not have been sold or transferred to the defendants in 2006 or 2007 by their late father who died intestate on November 2, 1990. They were also seeking a declaration that the purported sale of their family property to the bank is invalid, null and void, therefore urging the court to issue an order setting aside the purported sale or transfer of the their family property to the defendants. They also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, whether by themselves, their agents or privies or by any person acting on their behalf from trespassing on their family property.
An order compelling the bank to vacate and give up vacant possession of their family property and the sum of N50 million as damages jointly and severally against the defendants for their alleged unlawful act of trespassing and shady dealing on their family land.
However, the defendants in their response to the suit, while denying the claimants’ amended statement of claim, insisted that they bought the property from the claimants’ late father in 2007.Diamond Bank in its statement of defence filed before the court by its lawyer, Segun Ololade, while denying all the claims of the claimants stated that it bought the property from the second defendant, Ablag Company Limited, who originally bought same from the late Anicetus Ibhagbe Eikore wherein purchase receipt, deed of sale and necessary documents to further support the fact that the deceased was the owner of the property was supplied to Ablag company by the claimants’ late father who also swore to an affidavit on January 11, 2007 and that it was upon the purchase of the said land from the claimants’ late father, that the second defendant proceeded to perfect the transactions. The bank also stated that before the execution of the necessary documents between the claimants’ late father to vest title of the property on the defendant, they took reasonable steps to conduct necessary searches and investigations of the said property and found out that the property was duly registered in the name of the claimants’ late father. The bank added that they bought the land without notice of any encumbrance. The bank therefore urged the court to dismiss the claimants’ suit with substantive cost, as it was not properly constituted and also being frivolous, vexatious, and abuse of court process. Also, the second defendant,
However Ablag Company Limited, in its statement of defence filed by its lawyer, Wole Ajayi, equally urged the court to dismiss the claimants’ suit with substantive cost for being frivolous, vexatious, gold-digging and fraudulent calculated to embarrass them and mislead the court.
It also contended that the claimants’ late father, Mr. Anicetus Ibhagbe Eikore in his capacity as the owner of the said property in the suit, sold the property to it in 2007 which it later directly transferred to the bank.
It added that the claimants’ late father on January 11, 2007, personally produced and swore to an affidavit in respect of the property and later with a police report by himself all in respect of the property in dispute.
According to Shokishombolonews.com
Business
Group Signs Investment Promotion Agreement in Ivory Coast as UNIPGC Deploys Funding for Capital Projects
Group Signs Investment Promotion Agreement in Ivory Coast as UNIPGC Deploys Funding for Capital Projects
– Ivorycoast, Cot’devouir
Noble & Gold Consulting Ltd has officially signed a partnership agreement with Gicobat Group of Company to facilitate funding for capital projects in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, through the UNIPGC–Global Economic Development Council (GEDC), during a high-level Business and Investment Roundtable held in the country.
The meeting, which took place on May 12, 2026, at the World Trade Centre in Abidjan, brought together senior executives and stakeholders from both organizations, including His Excellency, Amb. Jonathan Ojadah GCOP, Global President of UNIPGC; Mr. Noble Eze, CEO of Noble & Gold Consulting Ltd; and the Chairman of Gicobat Group of Company, Côte d’Ivoire.
The roundtable focused on opportunities for capital project financing, investment promotion, and business development across strategic sectors of the economy. Following extensive deliberations, the parties finalized terms and signed an agreement aimed at advancing the projects discussed during the engagement.
Speaking at the event, the Chairman of the UNIPGC-GEDC, His Excellency Amb. Jonathan Ojadah, delivered a presentation titled *“How Reputable Brands Can Secure Funding for Capital Projects.”* He stated that the agreement represents a major milestone in supporting high-profile business initiatives that require structured financing and professional project management.
According to him, the partnership aligns with UNIPGC-GEDC’s mandate as a leading investment promotion, advisory, and business development institution operating across Africa and internationally.
> “Today, I am delighted to address this important topic on how leaders of established and reputable brands can secure the capital required for major expansion, technological advancement, or infrastructure development. The objective is not merely to find funding, but to attract the right funding at the most competitive cost of capital,” he stated.
He emphasized that brand reputation remains a critical asset in attracting investors and financial institutions.
> “In business, reputation is everything. In the world of capital-intensive projects, reputation is more than public perception; it is an asset class. A reputable brand represents stability, proven performance, and trustworthiness,” he added.
Amb. Ojadah further noted that successful funding processes begin long before formal investment pitches are made. According to him, investors seek organizations that demonstrate value stewardship, operational excellence, and financial discipline.
Drawing from his international experience in capital project engagements across Egypt, Kenya, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Zambia, and other countries, he highlighted several categories of major funding institutions involved in large-scale development financing. These include multilateral development banks, government agencies, private foundations, and impact investors focused on infrastructure, healthcare, real estate, energy, oil and gas, and sustainable development.
Among the institutions he referenced were the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the European Union (EU), the United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF), the OPEC Fund for International Development, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Mastercard Foundation, the Ford Foundation, the Rockefeller Foundation, and the UNIPGC Foundation.
He explained that through the UNIPGC Global Economic Development Council (GEDC), the organization facilitates funding opportunities for startups, private sector operators, and government projects through public-private partnerships (PPP), leveraging its network of international funding partners and financial institutions.
Amb. Ojadah identified three critical indicators commonly assessed by investors and lenders before financing projects:
1. **Transparency and Financial Performance** – Organizations must maintain audited financial records, quality assets, and sustainable growth patterns.
2. **Operational Excellence** – Investors prefer businesses with proven operational systems and stable cash flow generation, which reduce investment risks.
3. **A Strong Project Narrative** – Businesses must clearly demonstrate how proposed projects align with long-term strategic goals such as digital transformation, automation, infrastructure expansion, or increased market competitiveness.
He also outlined key strategies reputable brands can adopt in securing project financing, including bank financing, strategic partnerships, vendor financing arrangements, private equity investments, and asset-based lending structures.
> “Securing capital for projects as a reputable brand is ultimately about combining trust with strategic planning. Reputation is your strongest asset, and when paired with sound financial planning and a compelling vision, it becomes a powerful tool for building the future,” he concluded.
For Gicobat Group of Company, the partnership is expected to accelerate the execution of ongoing and proposed projects by leveraging UNIPGC-GEDC’s network of investors and financial partners. Officials of the company expressed confidence that the collaboration would significantly improve project implementation timelines and financing accessibility.
Organizers noted that the choice of the World Trade Centre, Abidjan, as the venue reflected the international scope and significance of the engagement, particularly for negotiations involving capital-intensive projects in infrastructure, trade, and industrial development.
UNIPGC-GEDC describes itself as a leading global investment promotion, advisory, and business development consultancy, working with governments, private enterprises, and institutional investors to structure, finance, and manage large-scale projects from inception to completion.
According to the organization, the Abidjan agreement adds to its expanding portfolio of strategic partnerships aimed at unlocking capital for projects with significant economic and social impact. It also confirmed that due diligence and project structuring processes had been completed prior to the signing to ensure project bankability and investor confidence.
Officials from both organizations further disclosed that implementation teams would be constituted immediately to oversee the next phase of the agreement. Although specific project details were not disclosed, both parties assured stakeholders that updates would be communicated as implementation milestones are achieved.
UNIPGC-GEDC also encouraged businesses, institutions, and investors with high-impact projects requiring financing or management support to engage with its team for collaboration opportunities. Further information on its services is available via UNIPGC-GEDC Official Website www.unipgc.org/gedc
Business
Dennis Ekamah Isn’t Building Houses—He’s Redefining What Home Means for Africans Through PropTech
Dennis Ekamah Isn’t Building Houses—He’s Redefining What Home Means for Africans Through PropTech.
The founder of coHouse.ng is reimagining how millions of Africans access, experience, and share housing through technology.
In Africa’s rapidly evolving innovation landscape, the most transformative companies are no longer defined by the industries they enter, but by the systems they redesign.
For Dennis Ekamah, the opportunity was never about constructing buildings, it was about confronting a deeper question.
why is access to housing still so structurally difficult for millions of Africans in a digital age?
Rather than stepping into real estate as a developer. Dennis chose a different path, positioning coHouse.ng as a PropTech platform rethinking how housing is accessed, experienced, and shared. At the heart of this vision which is connecting potential home owners together via resource pooling for the purpose of either Living or Growth. Simply, *Connect. Live. Grow.*
*A Platform Not a Property Company*
coHouse.ng is not a real estate company. It is a technology-driven ecosystem connecting like-minded individuals into structured communities where they can live intentionally, invest collectively, and grow within a shared system.
From Insight to Recognition
In 2025, coHouse.ng was recognised among the Top 50 Tech Startups in Africa. Even ahead of its official launch, the platform attracted over 1,000 early waitlist users, individuals eager to be part of a new way of living and investing.
Solving for Access, Alignment, and Trust
Dennis Ekamah’s diagnosis goes deeper than supply shortfalls. The real barriers he argues are access, coordination, and trust. coHouse.ng tackles all three through identity verification powered by a third party verification system api. coHouse is not flying solo without the help and collaboration with government bodies across Nigeria and other African countries.
In his words;
“Imagine what you would achieve as an individual or group if you’re living with the right people or like-minded individuals around you.”
I’m not a developer, I’m not a professional realtor, I’m just someone who sees the need for this solution based on the problem we face as youth/young entrepreneurs in today’s housing deficiency across Africa.
— Dennis Ekamah
Join our waitlist by visiting www.cohouse.ng
Landmark Judgment: Federal High Court Dismisses ₦50bn Oil Spill Claim Against ExxonMobil
The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo has dismissed a ₦50 billion lawsuit filed against ExxonMobil, sued as Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, now Seplat Energy Producing, in a ruling analysts say could significantly reshape oil spill litigation and compensation claims in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
Delivering judgment on April 29, 2026, Justice Onyetenu held that the suit instituted by the Ejige Ore Njenyisi Muma & Fishing Co-operative Society Ltd was incompetent and liable to dismissal for lack of jurisdiction.
The plaintiffs had sought ₦50 billion in damages over an alleged hydrocarbon spill said to have occurred on September 12, 2021.
However, counsel to the defendant, Chinonso Ekuma of KENNA LP, successfully argued that the claimants failed to disclose any legally recognisable violation attributable to the oil firm.
In its findings, the court held that the plaintiffs failed to establish any actionable wrongdoing against the defendant.
A key element in the court’s decision was the Joint Investigation Visit (JIV) Report tendered by the plaintiffs themselves, which showed that the alleged spill incident was confined within ExxonMobil’s operational facility and did not impact the members of the cooperative society or their sources of livelihood.
The court further ruled that claims arising from such incidents must be pursued strictly under the statutory compensation framework provided in Section 11(5) of the Oil Pipelines Act, rather than through common-law claims founded on negligence or nuisance.
Justice Onyetenu held that the plaintiffs’ attempt to circumvent the statutory regime by framing the suit as a tort action rendered the matter incompetent before the court, thereby depriving it of jurisdiction.
Legal analysts say the judgment reinforces the supremacy of the Oil Pipelines Act in determining compensation procedures relating to oil pipeline incidents and environmental claims in Nigeria.
The ruling is also seen as strengthening the evidential weight of Joint Investigation Visit Reports, particularly in cases where such reports indicate no direct impact on claimants or host communities.
Industry observers believe the judgment will have far-reaching implications for future oil spill litigation, especially regarding the procedural requirements for compensation claims against oil operators.
The court’s decision further provides clarity for operators within Nigeria’s energy sector by reaffirming that compliance with Section 11(5) of the Oil Pipelines Act is mandatory and cannot be sidestepped through alternative legal formulations.
While K.O. Uzuokwu appeared for the plaintiffs, the defence was led by Chinonso Ekuma of KENNA LP on behalf of ExxonMobil.
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