Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
A court of competent jurisdiction has issued an interim injunction restraining Tribatat Real Estate from further marketing, selling, or transferring any interest in Micasa Estate located in the Elerangbe area of Ogun State, pending the hearing of a substantive suit filed by a concerned private entity challenging the validity of the developer’s title to the land. The order, which was granted on 19 March 2026 by Justice O.O. Fadairo of the Ota Magistrates’ Court, was part of broader proceedings that also directed the temporary release of certain properties to preserve the rights of an estate pending the review of earlier contempt orders. In a separate ruling, the court had also granted an extension of time to file an estate inventory and final account, finding sufficient cause and beneficiary consent under Section 273(1) of the Succession Act.
The legal dispute over Micasa Estate is the latest in a long list of real estate controversies that have plagued Ogun State, where property fraud has become so pervasive that industry experts estimate over 500,000 cases of land scam are reported annually across Lagos and Ogun States. The persistence of “omonile” (land grabber) activities, double‑selling of plots, fraudulent title documents and the impersonation of government agencies has turned property acquisition in the region into a high‑risk venture, with billions of naira locked up as “dead capital” in disputed or illegally documented land.
The court’s intervention comes at a time when the Ogun State Government has been taking more proactive steps to combat real estate fraud. In April 2026, the state’s Ministry of Justice issued a public warning after uncovering a fraudulent Customary Court judgment that land grabbers intended to use to deceive members of the public. The statement noted that the land in question fell within government acquisition and that the judgment was obtained without notice to the state. “The Ministry of Justice is taking steps to set aside the judgment that a developer is fraudulently laying claim to,” the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade SAN, said at the time. The ministry stressed that even without setting aside the judgment, members of the public should be discerning enough to examine such documents and question how any court order could apply to land not described in the judgment.
The crackdown on fraudulent developers has also extended to the state legislature. The Ogun State House of Assembly has threatened to issue arrest warrants against individuals involved in land grabbing and the illegal sale of properties belonging to the Housing Corporation. The Assembly has also commenced a probe into the N45 million allegedly used to obtain title documents for a non‑existent hotel. On the prosecution front, the Nigerian Bar Association has arraigned six persons for illegally preparing land sale agreements, while a 60‑year‑old man was recently arraigned for allegedly obtaining N50 million under false pretences, and a 62‑year‑old man was prosecuted for a N4 million land fraud. In May 2026, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) opened a money laundering investigation into a multi‑billion‑naira contract fraud involving state funds, which may intersect with land acquisition matters.
The Lagos State Government has been equally aggressive in protecting property buyers. On 26 May 2026, the government announced that it had recovered over N270 million from fraudulent estate agents and developers on behalf of residents affected by real estate scams across the state. The Lagos State Real Estate Regulatory Authority (LASRERA) has strengthened its regulatory oversight through aggressive stakeholder engagement, public sensitisation campaigns and enforcement operations targeted at restoring confidence in the property market. The authority has also sealed fake real estate offices, hunted down impersonators, and stressed that all estate agents must register with LASRERA, warning that operating without registration would become a punishable offence.
Real estate experts have long warned that the scale of property fraud in Ogun and Lagos States is severely undermining investor confidence. “Many transactions go wrong because buyers fail to verify property ownership or rush into deals without proper documentation,” said Toheeb Lawal, an Abuja‑based real estate consultant. The MD/CEO of HTH AnnePearc Ltd, Mrs Anne Azonobi, recounted a case where a buyer lost N300 million after purchasing a non‑existent piece of land in Lagos, noting that some scams can even be life‑threatening. To avoid fraud, experts advise prospective buyers to confirm property ownership at the state land registry, verify land titles, ensure the property is not subject to government acquisition, meet the actual owner rather than relying solely on agents, avoid cash payments, engage qualified lawyers, and always register the property after purchase.
As the legal battle over Micasa Estate unfolds, the court’s injunction serves as a critical safeguard for unsuspecting buyers who might otherwise have invested in property with a clouded title. The case also highlights the urgent need for stronger regulatory oversight, improved land documentation and more robust enforcement against fraudulent developers across Ogun State. For now, prospective buyers are advised to exercise extreme caution and to verify the legal status of any property before making a commitment. The court has adjourned the matter for further hearing, and the outcome is likely to have significant implications for the real estate sector in the region.
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