The Supreme Court of Nigeria has dismissed the appeal filed by late Chief J. O. Adeyemi-Bero against the Lagos State government on the ownership of Plot 177, Victoria Island (now known as Eko Court Towers) and No. 25 Cooper Road, Ikoyi, Lagos.
A statement issued by the Lagos State Solicitor-General and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Justice, Lawal Pedro, and made available to LEADERSHIP WEEKEND, has it that the original appellant, the late Chief J. O. Adeyemi-Bero, a retired permanent secretary in the state civil service, had filed an appeal in the Supreme Court of asking that the properties, known as Plot 177, Victoria Island, Lagos and No.25, Cooper Road, Ikoyi, Lagos be reverted to him as owner.
The properties were allegedly forfeited to the Lagos State government by virtue of the Determination of Interests in State Land No.1, Order LSLN No.9 of 1976, made pursuant to Section 1 of the Determination of Certain Interests in the Land Edict No.3 of 1976 and Public Officers and Other Persons (Forfeiture of Assets) Order 1976 made pursuant to Investigation of Assets (Public Officers and Other Persons) Decree 1968 respectively.
In 1993, the federal military government of General Ibrahim Babangida, promulgated the Forfeiture of Assets (Release of Certain Forfeited Properties etc.) decree No. 54 of 1993, in which the name of Mr. J.O. Adeyemi-Bero was listed and the properties in dispute were returned to him.
The state government, however, refused to release the properties, and the appellant filed a suit No. M/415/95? against it.? On the 11th day of June 1996 the appellant obtained judgement at the High Court for the release of the properties to him.