Metro

Controversial AMCON Sale: Court Evicts Ali Baba From VI Property

Published

8 months ago

September 6, 2025

Editor

Popular comedian Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, widely known as Ali Baba, and his company, XQZMOI TV, have been evicted from a Victoria Island property.

The eviction was carried out by bailiffs of the Federal High Court in Lagos, acting on a writ of possession issued on August 15, 2025.

The action followed a judgment delivered by Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on July 31, 2025, which dismissed a suit brought by Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), against Harold Expansion Industries Nigeria Limited and, critically, ruled in favour of Harold Expansion’s counterclaim.

The court’s decision reversed the sale of the property, located at 324A Akin Ogunlewe Street, and ordered its return to the family of the now-deceased original owner.

AMCON had initially filed the suit, claiming Harold Expansion Industries was indebted to the defunct Bank PhB (now Keystone Bank) to the tune of N617 million.

The corporation alleged that the loan was taken in three tranches in 2008, totalling N129 million, which AMCON subsequently took over.

To recover part of the alleged debt, AMCON was said to have sold the property to Ali Baba for ₦220 million, even as it claimed a balance of N616.1 million was still owed.

However, Harold Expansion Industries, through its lawyer, Benjamin Olayiwola Sadibo, denied the debt.

The company’s counterclaim stated that the N129 million was a consolidated and restructured sum from the original loans, with repayments having been made since the first loan was taken in January 2008.

In his judgment, Justice Lewis-Allagoa identified two key issues: whether AMCON had proven its case and whether Harold Expansion was entitled to its counterclaim.

Citing Section 131(1) of the Evidence Act 2011, the judge ruled that AMCON had failed to provide sufficient evidence to support its claims.

He noted that AMCON did not exhibit the defendant’s statement of account, a crucial piece of evidence for a creditor claiming a debt.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa stated that this failure was fatal to the plaintiff’s case and, as a result, dismissed AMCON’s suit.

Regarding the counterclaim, the judge pointed out that AMCON had failed to file a defence.

“Where a defendant counterclaims against a claimant, the latter is duty-bound to file a defence to the counterclaim; otherwise, the court is obliged to assume that the claimant has no defence,” he stated.

Consequently, the court entered judgment in favour of Harold Expansion Industries, granting all the reliefs sought, including an order for the return of the property and N500 million in damages against AMCON.

It would be recalled that Ali Baba purchased the property in 2021 for N220 million while the case was still in court, despite an existing order for AMCON to preserve the property pending the suit’s determination.

The comedian was allegedly a tenant of the property’s original owner before AMCON forcefully evicted the family and sold it to him.

The owner reportedly passed away shortly after the eviction. The premises, which comprise two large duplexes, had been fully occupied by Ali Baba’s company, XQZMOI, serving as its studios.

(TRIBUNE)

Metro

Gunmen Kidnap Businessman In Ibadan

Published

1 day ago

May 4, 2026

Editor

Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have abducted a 60-year-old man in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

The victim was kidnapped on Saturday while on his way to his residence.

The incident occurred at Jinarere, Alakia in Ibadan.

Public Relations Officer of the State Police command, Olayinka Ayanlade, when contacted, confirmed the incident.

Ayanlade in a statement made available to DAILY POST on Sunday, explained that efforts are ongoing to rescue the victim.

Ayanlade said, “Preliminary information reveals that the victim, a 60-year-old male and building materials trader, was accosted while returning home along the Jinarere axis of Alakia Road by four masked armed men, who forcefully whisked him away in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota Corolla vehicle”.

Metro

Tragedy As Suspected Kidnappers Kill Young Entrepreneur In Edo

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

A 30-year-old entrepreneur and CEO of Principle Takeout, Justice Abu Oshioke, has been killed by suspected kidnappers in Ekpoma, Esan West Local Government Area of Edo State.

He was reportedly attacked by the suspected kidnappers on Saturday while on his way to pick up an order made for his child’s dedication on Sunday morning.

Eyewitnesses said the attackers attempted to force him into a nearby bush in a kidnapping attempt. However, he reportedly resisted and tried to escape.

In the course of the struggle, the assailants opened fire, shooting him multiple times.

Concerned residents quickly rushed him to a nearby medical facility, but he was confirmed dead on arrival.

The deceased was said to have recently gotten married and welcomed a baby boy.

The tragic event has turned a joyous occasion into a moment of grief for the family.

The shocking development has left the Ekpoma community in deep sorrow, with many residents expressing outrage over the growing insecurity in the area.

Edo State Police Command’s spokesperson, Eno Ikoedem confirmed the incident and said the Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika has ordered a “full-scale investigation and intensified manhunt for those responsible.”

According to her, the Police, in collaboration with the military, local vigilantes, and hunters, are actively pursuing the perpetrators through coordinated operations.

Metro

Grandfathers Arrested For Drug Trafficking

Published

2 days ago

May 3, 2026

Editor

Two grandfathers, aged 83 and 78, are among several suspects apprehended by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in a fresh nationwide crackdown on illicit drug trafficking.

Pa John Ofiel, 83, was arrested on Tuesday, 28 April during a raid in the Aba region of Abia State.

The NDLEA said that operatives acting on credible intelligence recovered 700 grams of skunk, a potent strain of cannabis already packaged into retail sachets.

The octogenarian, who claimed to be a professional shoemaker allegedly confessed to delving into the illicit trade.

In Ekiti State on Thursday 30 April 78 year old Ogunjobi Samuel was detained at his residence in Ilupeju-Ekiti where officers seized 350 grams of cannabis from him, identifying him as a local peddler.

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, (CCEO), Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the various state commands for their drug supply reduction efforts.

He urged officers to maintain the current momentum, balancing enforcement with the agency’s War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) sensitisation activities.
The enforcement drive also led to the arrest of a notorious drug dealer in Oyo State Taofik Adeyemi, 49.

He was apprehended on Saturday, 2 May, at his residence in Ibadan after months of evading the authorities.

He was caught alongside his salesman, Mustapha Oyerinde, with 3.085kg of cannabis and a getaway vehicle.

Across other states, the NDLEA recorded significant seizures including over 140,000 pills and capsules of Tramadol intercepted in separate operations targeting transit routes from Damaturu to Hadejia.

A raid on Awolowo Market in Mushin area of Lagos state resulted in the recovery of 740kg of cannabis while in Kaduna, two suspects were caught on the Abuja-Jos highway with 290kg of compressed cannabis concealed in a Honda Ridgeline.

A 65-year-old driver was intercepted at the Ile-Ife toll gate in Osun state conveying skunk and methamphetamine, leading to a follow up arrest of the consignment’s owner in Ilesha.

In line with it’s mandate, the NDLEA continued its War Against Drug Abuse (WADA) advocacy, holding enlightenment lectures for students, Islamic schools, and commercial motorcyclists in Niger, Kano, Anambra, and Lagos states.

The NDLEA’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, noted that the agency remains committed to “cleansing the streets” of both notorious distributors and those who use age as a shield for criminal activity.