Nigeria Court Freezes Lagos Property in Abacha Land Row
Key Facts
- —The country Nigeria is Africa’s most populous nation, with about 238 million people. Its economy, roughly US$290 billion in 2025 by IMF estimates, is somewhat smaller than Portugal’s.
- —Why it matters Lagos is Nigeria’s commercial capital, and Victoria Island is its prime banking and office district. Title and joint-venture disputes there can lock up valuable land for years.
- —Why now A Federal High Court judge in Lagos signed an interim order on Tuesday 29 September 2026, and it was reported by Nigerian newspapers on 2 October.
- —What happened Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa named a court officer as receiver and barred the developer from selling, leasing or mortgaging the property, according to the order as reported.
- —Who is involved Dr Maryam Sani Abacha, widow of former military ruler Sani Abacha, is the applicant. Levitikal Realties & Construction Ltd, a Lagos developer, is the respondent.
- —What it means for you Anyone considering a deal on this site should wait. More broadly, foreign buyers in Lagos should check land titles and joint-venture terms before committing money.
- —Still open The order is temporary and decides nothing on ownership. Levitikal’s side of the dispute was not reported, and the case returns to court on 9 November 2026.
A federal court in Lagos, Nigeria’s business capital, has put a disputed plot in upmarket Victoria Island under a receiver. The applicant is Maryam Abacha, widow of the country’s former military ruler.
A Nigerian court has frozen dealings in a Victoria Island property in Lagos and placed it under a receiver during the dispute. Nigeria is Africa’s most populous country, and Lagos is its main commercial hub.
The applicant is Dr Maryam Sani Abacha, widow of General Sani Abacha, who ruled Nigeria from 1993 until his death in 1998. The respondent is Levitikal Realties & Construction Ltd, a local property developer.
What the court ordered
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court in Lagos issued the interim order on 29 September 2026. The case number is FHC/LAG/CS/1245/2026, according to reports in The Guardian and The Nation.
The property stands at No. 68 Molade Okoya Thomas Street, off Ajose Adeogun Street. That address sits in the heart of Victoria Island, a district of banks, corporate offices and luxury flats.
The judge barred Levitikal, its directors, agents and anyone acting through it from selling, transferring, leasing, mortgaging or otherwise encumbering the property. The restriction runs until the court hears Abacha’s application for a longer-lasting injunction.
He also barred the company from presenting itself to third parties as the owner with power to sell or mortgage the land. Any step that could prejudice the subject of the lawsuit is likewise forbidden, according to the order as reported.
Who will run the property
The receiver and manager is the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, or another court officer acting as official receiver. That officer is to take possession, custody and control of the site.
As an alternative, the order allows a private firm to do the job. It names estate surveyors Bola Adebule & Company, or another reputable firm registered with the Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Agency.
The judge also directed the police and the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, to help enforce the order. Abacha was allowed to publish the order in newspapers and online to warn buyers, lenders and investors.
How the dispute began
According to the court papers as reported, the dispute grew out of a joint venture to build a high-rise on the site. The landowner later ended the agreement, alleging fundamental breaches by the developer, Levitikal.
A notice of dispute requesting mediation or arbitration was issued on 7 September 2026. Abacha’s lawyer, Adedayo Adesina, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (the country’s top rank for barristers), filed the urgent application on 10 September.
The application was made ex parte, meaning the judge heard only one side before ruling. The supporting affidavit was sworn by Sadiq Mohammed Abacha, according to The Guardian and The Nation.
The title relied on in the suit is a Certificate of Occupancy dated 4 July 1988. In Nigeria, this document is the state’s grant of the right to occupy land, since the state formally owns all land.
The other side
Levitikal’s response to the order was not reported in the coverage, and the allegations of breach have not been tested in court. An interim order of this kind is not a finding against any party.
The Guardian reported that Levitikal Group names Samuel Mawuyon Ajose as its chairman and chief executive. It said Ajose declared an interest in the 2027 Lagos governorship race in January 2026.
Why foreign investors should care
Victoria Island is where many multinational companies, banks and embassies in Nigeria have offices. Prime plots there are scarce, so developers often build through joint ventures with landowners rather than buying land outright.
When such a partnership breaks down, courts can freeze a project for months or years. Buyers and lenders who deal with the wrong party risk being caught in the litigation.
Foreigners cannot hold freehold land in Nigeria and usually rely on leases and occupancy certificates. The Rio Times has explained how buying property in Nigeria works for foreigners.
Checks at the state lands registry, plus a search for pending suits, are standard precautions. This case shows why lawyers in Lagos insist on both before any deal in the district.
What to watch next
The case returns to the Federal High Court on 9 November 2026. Levitikal may then contest the order or set out its own claim to the site.
Parallel arbitration proceedings are also under way, according to the court papers as reported. Either track could decide who controls the land.
For now, the site stays in court hands. No value for the property was given in the reports.
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Nigerian court order?
On 29 September 2026, a Federal High Court judge in Lagos put a disputed Victoria Island plot under a court receiver. He barred the developer from selling, leasing or mortgaging it until a further hearing.
Who are the parties in the case?
The applicant is Dr Maryam Sani Abacha, widow of former military ruler Sani Abacha. The respondent is Levitikal Realties & Construction Ltd, a Lagos property developer.
Does the order decide who owns the Victoria Island property?
No. It is an interim measure that preserves the site while the case is heard, with the next hearing on 9 November 2026.
Sources
- The Guardian (Nigeria): Court appoints receiver over disputed Lagos property
- Premium Times: Court appoints interim receiver over disputed Lagos property linked to Maryam Abacha
- The Nation: Court appoints receiver over Victoria Island property
- IMF World Economic Outlook: Nigeria GDP and population
This article was produced by The Rio Times’ automated newsroom system. How we use AI · Report an error · Editorial responsibility: Matthias Camenzind, Editor-in-Chief
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