Nigerian Socialite, Real estate mogul and billionaire property developer, Sir Oluwatumininu Okeowo, has hauled his siblings, Tolulope Okeowo and Joe Faraday, a company belonging to his one of his brothers, Joshua Okeowo, claiming N100 million in damages over an alleged false and libelous publication with regards to an estate belonging to their late father, Sir Taiwo Okeowo.
Just like Sir Olu Okeowo, Joshua Okeowo is also a property developer and his company was in charge of the seven-storey building that collapsed in Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos in April 2023 while still under construction, killing two site workers and injuring several others.
Sir Olu Okeowo, in his suit, is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from publishing libelous statements against him.
He also prayed the court to compel the defendants to show evidence that he forged a Lagos State Certificate of Occupancy over a property in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Although, the defendants, in their statement, denied making any or such unprovoked offensive remarks or orchestrated campaign against Okeowo’s character. They explained that the letter dated October 5, 2022, referenced in the statement of claim, was written on their authorisation as shareholders and directors of Manna Real Estate Company Limited and Metal Construction (West Africa) Ltd, and beneficiaries of the Estate of Late Sir Taiwo Okeowo.
The defendants in their counterclaim, alleged that since their father’s death in 2003, no letters of administration were granted to anyone to administer the estate, adding that Sir Olu Okeowo has been diverting assets of the estate to his personal use and has been illegally managing the assets of the estate without their consent or authority.
The defendants prayed the court for a declaration that they, together with Sir Olu Okeowo, are jointly entitled to the distribution of the assets of the estate of their late father, also seeking an order instructing Sir Olu Okeowo to render a proper account of his management of the estate and an order appointing the Administrator-General of Lagos State to take over the management of the assets of the estate.
The hearing was adjourned till May 20, 2024.
