Nigerian High Court Orders Takeover Of Disputed Lagos Property Between Maryam Abacha, Firm
Nigerian High Court Orders Takeover Of Disputed Lagos Property Between Maryam Abacha, Firm 
The court intervention followed an ex-parte application filed by Abacha on September 10, through her counsel, Adedayo Adesina, SAN.
The Federal High Court in Lagos State has appointed a receiver/manager to take possession and control of a disputed property in Victoria Island, Lagos, in a suit between former first lady, Mrs Maryam Sani Abacha and a firm.
The order was made in Suit No. FHC/LAG/CS/1245/2026, in which Abacha is the Plaintiff/Applicant while the firm, Levitikal Realties & Construction Limited is the Defendant/Respondent.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, in an interim order issued on September 29, 2026, restrained the firm, its directors, agents, representatives, servants and persons acting through it “from selling, transferring, assigning, mortgaging, leasing, charging, alienating or otherwise encumbering the property pending the hearing and determination of the applicant’s Motion on Notice for interlocutory injunction.”
The property is located at No. 68 Molade Okoya Thomas Street, off Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island.
The court intervention followed an ex-parte application filed by Abacha on September 10, through her counsel, Adedayo Adesina, SAN.
In addition to restraining the defendant from dealing with the property, Justice Lewis-Allagoa barred it from taking any step or carrying out any act calculated to interfere with, overreach, dissipate, assign, transfer, sell, alienate, encumber or otherwise prejudice the subject matter of the originating summons.
In a significant aspect of the order, the judge appointed the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, or any officer of the court serving as Official Receiver, as Receiver/Manager to take possession, custody and control of the disputed property pending the hearing and final determination of the Motion on Notice.
The order arose against the backdrop of a Notice of Dispute and Request for Mediation and/or Arbitration dated September 7, 2026, concerning the property.
The dispute reportedly originated from a joint venture arrangement for the development of a high-rise property on the site.
According to the account contained in the court processes, the landowner subsequently terminated the joint venture agreement over alleged fundamental breaches by the developer, Levitikal Realties & Construction Limited.
The court processes further indicate that the dispute has generated parallel legal and alternative dispute-resolution proceedings, including the Federal High Court action and arbitration proceedings.
The property has also previously attracted the attention of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.
Media reports in August 2026 said EFCC operatives had marked the Victoria Island development with a warning directing persons to keep off amid an alleged investigation.
Those reports, however, did not establish a final finding of wrongdoing against any party.
Against that background, the latest Federal High Court order places further restrictions on dealings involving the property while the substantive dispute remains pending.
The judge further directed the Nigeria Police Force, including the Inspector General of Police, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, as well as the EFCC and other relevant law-enforcement agencies, to provide adequate security and assistance to the applicant and the Deputy Sheriff of the Federal High Court for the implementation and enforcement of the orders.
The matter has been adjourned until November 9, 2026.
