Businessman Ejiofor Decries Demolition of His N500 Million Mansion in Lagos
Aleke Aleke in Abuja
A Civil Engineer, Mr McDonald Ejiofor, has condemned the demolition of his N500 million property by officials of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) at 6th Avenue, FESTAC Town, Lagos, on Saturday, 11 October 2025, describing the act as the complete destruction of years of labour and dreams.
Mr Ejiofor, 48, alleged that FHA officials, policemen attached to the Lagos State Task Force, and hired thugs stormed his residence at Plot 1892, Route 65, Caravan Estate, with bulldozers and began demolishing the structure while his family was still inside.
He stated that he legally acquired the land from the Kuje family in 2016, following a Federal High Court judgment which awarded ownership of the disputed area to the family.
He explained that problems began shortly after he moved into the property nine months ago, following claims by a lawyer that the land had been allocated to him by the FHA.
“The same month we moved in, my painter called to say that a lawyer had arrived with some hoodlums, vandalised the gate, arrested my workers, and took them to the FESTAC Police Station,” Ejiofor said. “I received a call from the police requesting my presence. I was told that a man claimed to be the rightful allottee of the land from the FHA and wanted to meet me.
“I contacted my lawyer, who went to the station and secured the release of my workers, as I was out of Lagos at the time. A month later, they returned and pasted a demolition notice on my property, issued by the FHA. I took a photo and sent it to the lawyer representing the Kuje family. Following the Federal High Court judgment in favour of the Kuje family in 2016, the FHA filed an appeal. The case is currently before the Lagos State High Court, which has ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending final judgment. Therefore, the FHA had no legal right to carry out the demolition.”
He continued: “Because of the court’s directive, I felt at peace. But I was shocked last Saturday morning when, while out playing football, I saw 23 missed calls from neighbours. When I returned one of the calls, I was told to rush home because FHA officials were at my property with a bulldozer. By the time I arrived, the fence had been pulled down and my building was partially demolished. I pleaded with them to give me time. My wife was still inside when the demolition began. People were shouting that someone was inside, but they didn’t listen. My furniture, electronics, machinery, documents, certificates, international passport, bed, and clothes were all buried in the rubble.”
Ejiofor further claimed that the following day, over 30 policemen in six Hilux vans stormed the site while he and others attempted to block water from entering the wreckage.
He alleged that they beat him, his wife, and his brother before throwing them into a Black Maria and detaining them at the Task Force cell in Oshodi. He was reportedly forced to sign an undertaking not to return to the property.
When reporters visited 6th Avenue on Tuesday, more than 15 structures had already been demolished, leaving residents and traders confused and distressed. The demolition exercise was ongoing, with bulldozers pulling down buildings as traders displayed their goods beside the debris. A bulldozer branded with Lagos State Government insignia was seen at the site, while officials pointed out more properties marked for demolition.
A distressed trader told reporters she had yet to find a new location for her business. At a nearby cement depot, workers were seen salvaging leftover bags of cement as bulldozers moved towards 9th Road. Some officials claimed the affected buildings encroached on road setbacks, but residents argued that most stood behind drainage channels with visible setbacks from the main road.
Residents also accused the FHA of carrying out selective demolitions, alleging that while some buildings were spared, others—mostly privately developed properties—were deliberately targeted. One FESTAC resident described the exercise as “unfair and lacking human consideration,” noting that many traders were not given prior warning.
“I was passing here on Saturday when I saw them demolishing the shops. I was told it was due to encroachment. But if you look closely, you’ll see the gutter and a clear setback. These buildings are aligned with others, so how did they encroach on the road? I don’t own a shop here, but I sympathise with those who invested so much. You know the cost of cement, wood, and roofing. Then they come and knock it all down like a pack of cards. If they had issued a notice, people could have removed their goods, but they didn’t.”
In a swift response, the Lagos State Task Force denied allegations that its officers unjustly arrested Ejiofor’s family members or residents during the demolition carried out by the FHA.
In a viral video, a woman identified as “Oneway” accused the Task Force of unlawfully detaining her husband and others during the operation.
However, the Agency clarified that those arrested had attacked Task Force officials with stones and dangerous objects in an attempt to obstruct the lawful demolition of structures allegedly encroaching on FHA property. It also alleged that the woman’s husband, who led the assault, initially attempted to bribe the demolition team but turned violent when his offer was rejected.
The Chairman of the Agency, CSP Adetayo Akerele, in a statement signed by the Director of Public Affairs, Mr Gbadeyan Abdulraheem, condemned the attack and warned that preventing law enforcement officers from carrying out their duties is a criminal offence.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government denied any involvement in the demolition.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr Oluyinka Olumide, stated unequivocally that the state government had no role in the exercise, stressing that Lagos follows a clear process before any demolition, including issuing appropriate notices and engaging affected persons.
