By Ghazali Ibrahim
The Federal High Court in Lagos has placed a disputed Victoria Island property under interim receivership following a legal battle between former military Head of State Sani Abacha’s widow, Maryam Sani Abacha, and Levitikal Realties & Construction Limited, a company associated with businessman Samuel Mawuyon Ajose.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, in an interim order issued on September 29, 2026, appointed the Deputy Chief Registrar of the Federal High Court, or an official receiver, to take possession, custody and control of the property located at No. 68 Molade Okoya Thomas Street, off Ajose Adeogun Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The judge also restrained Levitikal Realties, its directors, agents and representatives from selling, transferring, assigning, mortgaging, leasing, charging or otherwise encumbering the property pending the determination of an application for interlocutory injunction.
The development was reported by Premium Times after obtaining a Certified True Copy of the court order.
The property is covered by a Certificate of Occupancy dated July 4, 1988, and registered at the Lagos State Lands Registry.
According to an affidavit filed in support of Abacha’s application, she entered into a Property Development Joint Venture Agreement with Levitikal Realties on May 13, 2021, for the redevelopment of the property into 18 three-bedroom flats.
The agreement reportedly provided that nine of the completed flats would go to Levitikal as consideration for the development.
However, Abacha’s son, Sadiq Mohammed Abacha, who swore to the affidavit, alleged that Levitikal subsequently breached the agreement by failing to obtain the necessary statutory building approval and complete the development within the agreed period.
He further stated that the agreement and a subsequent power of attorney did not transfer ownership of the land to Levitikal.
Following the alleged breaches, Abacha reportedly revoked the power of attorney and terminated the joint venture agreement.
The affidavit also alleged that Levitikal used the property as collateral for credit facilities obtained from Providus Bank despite Abacha’s position that the company had no transferable or chargeable interest in the property.
The allegations are yet to be determined by the court.
The dispute has also extended beyond the Federal High Court, with the court processes indicating that the parties have been involved in mediation and arbitration proceedings.
The court further barred Levitikal from representing itself to third parties as the owner of the property with the capacity to sell, transfer, mortgage, lease or otherwise encumber it.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa authorised Abacha to publish the order in national newspapers and online media to notify prospective buyers, lenders, investors and other interested parties of the pending litigation.
The court also directed the police, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other relevant law-enforcement agencies to provide assistance in enforcing the order.
The property had previously attracted EFCC attention, with media reports in August 2026 stating that operatives of the commission marked the development amid an alleged investigation.
No final finding of wrongdoing against any of the parties has been established from those reports.
Ajose is identified by Levitikal Group as its chairman and chief executive officer and has been publicly associated with the property development.
The latest order, however, does not finally determine ownership of the Victoria Island property or establish liability against either party.
It is an interim measure intended to preserve the property while the substantive dispute proceeds.
The case has been adjourned until November 9, 2026.
