Peter Obi Laments After His Brother’s Property Was Demolished In Lagos Without Court Order

The Labour Party’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi has expressed concern over the growing disregard for the rule of law in Nigeria, saying it discourages investment and puts citizens at risk.

Taking to his X (formerly Twitter) page, Peter Obi revealed that his younger brother’s company property in Ikeja, Lagos, was allegedly demolished without any legal backing.

According to Obi, his brother called him in distress to report that a group of people had stormed the company’s premises and begun pulling down the building.

Obi, a former governor of Anambra State, said his brother chose to resolve the matter legally and was already seeking redress in court.

He said, “This morning, my youngest brother called me frantically, informing me that a group of people had invaded his company property in Ikeja, Lagos, and were demolishing the building.

“He had just come in from Port Harcourt and was denied entry to the property by security men who told him the building was being pulled down. They even informed him that this demolition had started over the weekend.”

Obi said he immediately flew to Lagos and went straight to the property but was blocked by security personnel despite his explanation that the property had belonged to his brother for over ten years.

He said, “They told me they had a court judgment, and I immediately requested it.

“You would not believe that the court judgment they claim was issued against an unknown person and squatters. I went further to ask about a demolition order or permit, and there was none.”

He asked for any legal documents authorizing the demolition, stressing that no demolition order or government permit was presented.

Obi said that what he was shown was a questionable court judgment issued against unnamed squatters, not his brother’s company.

The ex-governor raised doubts about the legitimacy of the process, questioning how a court judgement could be issued without a clear defendant or proper legal notice.

“I told them to give whoever sent them my number so I could speak to the person,” he said.

“I stood there from 10am to 2pm, waiting for a call. Nobody called. The contractor said he didn’t know who sent him. Two men later came and said we should go to a police station. I asked if they had a demolition order. They had nothing.”

Calling the incident a clear example of “coordinated lawlessness,” Obi said it highlights how ordinary citizens and small business owners are left vulnerable in a system where rights are routinely ignored.

He also recalled a conversation with a businessman who has investments across West Africa but refuses to invest in Nigeria, calling it a lawless country.

Obi said, “I just started reminiscing about how just over the weekend, I had a meeting when someone told me how he has investments in Ghana, Senegal, and the Benin Republic, but won’t touch Nigeria despite his market being here.

“I asked him why. His answer was piercing: ‘Nigeria is a lawless country. Until we have laws that protect people, nobody will invest in Nigeria’.

“I am just shocked. How did Nigeria get to this level of lawlessness? What kind of country are we trying to build when the rights of citizens, their lives, their properties, and their voices are trampled upon daily?”

“I remain committed to a better Nigeria where lawlessness will be a thing of the past, protection of life and property, respect for human rights, care for the less privileged, and basic education for all children. A new Nigeria is POssible.”

Any society where lawlessness overrides the rule of law is not destined to be a haven for investors. Recent reports showing that Nigeria’s human rights indicators have worsened merely highlight severe shortfalls in government protection for civil liberties, personal security, and… pic.twitter.com/3Dn2UZlPKq

— Peter Obi (@PeterObi) June 24, 2025

KanyiDaily recalls that Peter Obi recently criticised the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) for allegedly demanding ₦700,000 from shop owners in Onitsha’s Head Bridge Market before allowing them to reopen their businesses.