Ojukwu Transport Limited, OTL, has insisted that Maple Petrochemicals, a company owned by Governor Abdulraman Abdulrasak of Kwara state, must meet certian conditions before it would be allowed to continue to occupy no.14 Probyn Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
14 Probyn road, Ikoyi, Lagos was a subject of litigation until a Lagos High Court affirmed OTL as the rightful owner of the property whereas Ogbonna Ojukwu & Associates had leased the property to Maple Petrochemicals from 2017 to 2027 at N4million per annum.
Speaking on the dispute, OTL said it has no problem with Maple Petrochemicals remaining in their property till 2027, provided that they legitimize their stay and pay the appropriate rent for the period 2017 to 2027.
OTL Director, Dr Ike Ojukwu stated that attempts by the company to resolve the issue amicably initially were rebuffed, with lawyers acting for the Governor and his company playing ‘hide and seek’, even after it was evident that there was no agreement with OTL, owners of the property.
He however, stated that the matter was before Justice Oyebanji of the Lagos High Court and added that the company’s processes speak for themselves, especially the counter affidavit he swore to.
The ‘agent’ in question,
Ogbonna Ojukwu & Associates(Mrs Victoria Ojukwu and her husband, Sylvester Debe Odumegwu-Ojukwu, who died in 2018) ceased to work for them in 2007, notices were placed in national dailies to that effect and OTL states without equivocation that the so-called ‘lease’ is both fraudulent and of no consequence.
The ‘agent’,OTL also claim,
is fraudulent and has not remitted any money to the company since 1995, adding that they have been referred to the Police for investigation and prosecution.
Based on a petition to the police over 2 years ago,Mrs Victoria Ojukwu is said to have been invited by the Police.
OTL claims that not only did she not honour the invitation but believe that she absconded to the United States where they believe that she has been for almost two years.
They said ‘agent’ had never been shareholders, Directors or officers of the company according to OTL.
In processes filed in court,
Maple Petrochemicals claims that the property is the ‘Official residence of their Chairman’ and that they have ‘enjoyed peaceful tenancy since 1997.’
OTL however stated that they have not received any money in respect of the property and others, ‘managed’ by the agent from 1995 till date!
OTL further stated that warrant was duly and validly executed in April 2022, that there is no agreement between them and Governor Abdurahman Abdurazak or his company.
At a sitting on December 11, 2024,
the matter was adjourned till March 10, 2025 for hearing.
Present in court were Dr Ike Ojukwu, Chief Massey Udegbe of Massey Udegbe &Co, Estate agents/valuers for OTL.
