Nigerian-American Investor Denies Land-Grabber Label

Nigerian-American property investor, Alhaji Hameed Kasumu, has dismissed claims branding him a land grabber, stating that a Lagos State High Court had already affirmed his company’s ownership of the contested Ikoyi property before criminal proceedings against him were filed.

Kasumu, Chairman of Kings County Property Investment Limited, clarified this in response to reports of his alleged planned arraignment on charges of forcible entry and unlawful land possession at Plot 15, Alexander Avenue, Ikoyi, Lagos.

He claimed that the ownership dispute had been definitively resolved in favour of Kings County Property Investment Limited by a court of competent jurisdiction, and that the criminal charges originated from issues already settled by the court.

According to him, the media report on the postponed arraignment failed to present the full facts of the dispute. It did not seek his response before publication, which contravenes the principles of balanced journalism and a fair hearing.

Kasumu further argued that the petition leading to the criminal charge should not have been accepted by the police, as the petitioner, Muhammadu Wada, was aware of the final judgment affirming his company’s ownership of the land.

He called on journalists to exercise caution when reporting on matters pending in court, maintaining that one-sided reporting could unjustly damage litigants’ reputations.

The investor, who described himself as a businessman, philanthropist, and community leader with longstanding investments in real estate, education, and humanitarian causes, stated that he had acted within the law.

His response coincides with criminal proceedings initiated by the Inspector-General of Police before the Lagos State High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square in Suit No. LD/26902C/2025.

The prosecution alleged that Kasumu and Kings County Property Investment Limited unlawfully occupied the property following a petition by Muhammadu Wada.

At the last hearing before Justice Abdul-Raheem Muyideen, the prosecution informed the court that the defendants had failed to appear for arraignment despite being served with the charge.

However, counsel to the defendants, Chief Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), challenged the proceedings, arguing that Kasumu had not been properly served as he was outside the court’s jurisdiction.

Adegboruwa also raised a preliminary objection, questioning the court’s jurisdiction and submitting that the dispute concerned land ownership that the Lagos State High Court had already adjudicated.

He argued that the defendant was not required to appear until the jurisdictional challenge was settled.

Kasumu referenced a judgment delivered on 10 July 2024, by Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi in Suit No. LD/8305LMW/2019, between Kings County Property Investment Limited and the Governor of Lagos State, the Lagos State Government, and the Attorney-General of Lagos State.

In this judgment, the court upheld Kings County Property Investment Limited’s ownership of the land, establishing that the company had been in continuous possession since acquiring it in 2018.

Justice Ogunjobi also found that the Lagos State Government unlawfully interfered with the property by invading the site with armed police officers, disrupting the construction of a cancer treatment centre, and causing significant damage to the company.

The court ordered a halt to further interference, awarded Kings County Property Investment Limited N50 million in general damages and N5 million in costs.