Lawyer Petitions Gov. Sanwo-Olu Over Alleged Corruption In Ministry Of Land

Chief Malcom O. Omirhobo

Lawyer Petitions Gov. Sanwo-Olu Over Alleged Corruption In Ministry Of Land

A Nigeria lawyer, Chief Malcolm Emokiniovo Omirhobo, has petitioned Governor Babajide Sanwo-olu of Lagos State, asking him to look into the activities of the Registrar of Title, whom he accused of alleged incompetent and corruption.

Chief Omirhobo, a lawyer to Pastor Chukwuweike Ebenebe, said he had applied for his client’s registration of the title documents in respect of property lying and situate at Block Q, Plots 63 and 64A Ikota, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, File No. LU/GC/105263 and property lying and situate at Block 125, Plot 8, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, File No. LU/GC/113082, but till today, the Registrar of Titles and the officials of the Land Registry, have refused, failed and/or neglected to register the title documents of the said properties as a result of her incompetent and the corrupt practices.

Consequently, the lawyer in a petition dated October 27, 2021 and captioned: “petition against the Registrar Title of Lagos State Land Registry for incompetent and corrupt practices of her registry“, is urging Governor Sanwo-Olu use his good office to investigate the matter by querying your Registrar of Titles on why should his client’s files due for registration spend more than one month in her office without being attended to.

He also urged the Governor to speedily conclude the investigation and ensure that the Title Documents of the properties in issue are registered and handed over to him within the next one month of your receipt of the petition, failing which he shall be constrained to take legal action for non- performance claiming damages thereof.

The lawyer’s petition reads in part: “we are are a firm of solicitors engaged in the perfection exercise of the title documents in respect of property lying and situate at Block Q, Plots 63 and 64A Ikota, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, File No. LU/GC/105263 and property lying and situate at Block 125, Plot 8, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, File No. LU/GC/113082.

“We obtained your Consent in respect of File No. LU/GC/105263 since 2019 and via a letter dated 19/9/2019, we were advised by the Director of Land Services to approach your Land Registry for registration of our Client’s title document. Similarly, we obtained your Consent in respect of File No. LU/GC/113082 since 2020 and via a letter dated 15/12/2020, we were advised by the Director of Land Services to approach your Land Registry for registration of our Client’s title document. Kindly find attached hereto copies of both letters.

“Despite our meetings with your Registrar of Titles and several visits to your land registry, for the registration of the title documents of the above mentioned properties, she and the officials of your land registry have refused, failed and/or neglected to register the title documents of the said properties as a result of her incompetent and the corrupt practices going on at your land registry. The officials at your land registry are extorting money from lawyers and members of the public before their application files for Governors Consent can move from one point to other. The consequence of not paying them is the stagnation or disappearance of one’s application file like ours. As they keep on giving flimsy excuses such as Covid-19, the mourning and burial of staff, meetings, no electricity supply, fumigation of the building, conferences , visit of the Lagos State Governor to the Registry, promotional examination etc for their delay.

“We have lost credibility before our Clients who have also suffered losses and incurred damages for the inordinate delay of the perfection of their title documents and are now restive and doubtful of our ability to procure their title documents. On our part, we have lost income for failing to perfect our brief.

“It is on the basis of the above that we are writing you to: “use your good office to investigate the matter by querying your Registrar of Titles on why should our files due for registration spend more than one month in her office without being attended to?

“Why has your Registrar and officials turn your Land Registry to DUGBE MARKET where they have taken over the jobs of Lawyers and Agents in the perfection exercise of title documents demanding for monies and gratification before performing their official duties?

“In view of the above, we pray you to speedily conclude your investigation and ensure that the title documents of the properties in issue are registered and handed over to us within the next one month of your receipt of this letter, failing which we shall be constrained to take legal action against the Lagos State Government for non- performance claiming damages thereof.

“Lagos State prides itself as the centre of excellence and therefore cannot afford to be less because of a few incompetent and corrupt officials”.