Traders and other occupants of Tele-Olukoya Shopping Complex, 121 Okota Road, Isolo, Lagos, have expressed fear of eviction after the property was reportedly sold despite some tenants having valid rent agreements extending into 2027 and 2028.
The occupants have appealed to the Lagos State Government to intervene in the dispute, alleging that they were not adequately informed about the sale of the complex or given sufficient notice to vacate.
They also claimed that some landlords collected rent from them before the property was sold, leaving them uncertain about their tenancy rights and possible compensation.
One of the occupants, Joseph Ihekwereme, who operates an office in the complex, told The Guardian that the owners sold the property and subsequently worked with a government agency to declare the building distressed and direct occupants to vacate within seven days in August 2025.
Ihekwereme said the occupants expected the new owner to engage them and provide adequate notice before asking them to leave.
“We felt that anyone who bought the building should have interfaced with us and given us appropriate notice to leave instead of threatening us,” he said.
According to him, the tenants engaged a lawyer after the eviction directive was issued, resulting in a court order restraining authorities from taking immediate action against the complex.
“My appeal is for whoever bought the complex to suspend the action and give us due notice to evacuate our properties, but they are not forthcoming,” he said.
Ihekwereme said his rent would not expire until March 31, 2027, while some other occupants had tenancy agreements running until 2028.
Another shop owner, Daniel Chidera, said he occupies two shops in the complex, with the rent for one expiring in December 2026 and the other in July 2027.
Chidera said the occupants were caught off guard when eviction notices were suddenly pasted on the building.
“They came and pasted a notice, and since then, we have not heard from the landlords. The landlady had earlier pressured us to pay our rent ahead of the expiration date, citing medical reasons. We later heard that the property was sold in August 2026, and then the eviction notice followed.
“We have tried everything to get the landlords and the alleged buyer to meet with us, but no meeting has taken place,” he said.
The dispute has also become the subject of litigation.
A notice pasted on the building and dated Friday, August 14, 2026, cited Suit No. ID/11157GCM/2026, involving Isong Lord Francis and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).
According to the notice, the court granted an order of pre-emptive injunction restraining the first to third defendants from sealing, demolishing or otherwise destructively interfering with Tele-Olukoya Shopping Complex, pending compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol and/or further order of the court.
The court also restrained the respondents from sealing or demolishing the complex and from evicting or ejecting the applicants for 31 days.
The tenants said they were relying on the court order while appealing to the relevant authorities and the new owners to engage them and seek a lawful and peaceful resolution to the dispute.
