A 67-year-old pastor has died following a disputed eviction at Admiralty Homes Estate in Lekki, Lagos, with conflicting accounts from his family and the landlord’s representatives.
Punch Newspaper reported that Pastor Bolaji Olukotun passed away in the early hours of Sunday, July 13, after he was allegedly assaulted and thrown out of his apartment on Saturday, July 11. He was taken to a private hospital but could not be saved.
According to his lawyer, Barrister Akpobome Deniran, the dispute started over a rent-to-own arrangement. Olukotun had leased the apartment with an option to purchase it once his tenancy ended. When the landlord put it up for sale, he could not meet the asking price. The landlord then demanded he vacate so the unit could be sold to another buyer.
Deniran said he received a frantic call from Olukotun around 2 pm on July 11. “I’m dying, please come to the house,” the pastor said in a faint voice. At House B11, Deniran found him lying on the compound floor while his belongings were strewn outside.
The lawyer claimed more than seven armed men, a mobile police officer, estate agent Blessing Idonor, and a prospective buyer identified as Mr Smith were on site. He said Olukotun was vomiting and in agony while those present ridiculed him and suggested he was faking illness. Deniran added that the police officer threatened him with a rifle and warned him against taking pictures.
He also said the estate’s head of security, Angela, confirmed she allowed the group entry because the owner contacted her. She allegedly declined to say whether any court order was presented.
Flooding delayed getting Olukotun out of the estate until a water truck driver helped. He was rushed to Udeko Medical Centre in Chevron, Lekki. He complained of severe stomach pain before lodging a complaint at Ilasan Police Station that evening. Doctors later placed him on oxygen and he died hours afterward.
His son, Ayodeji Olukotun, questioned how his father could have opened the door if he was already critically ill. He said about seven thugs, a police officer, the new buyer, and agents entered the estate and accused them of carrying out a forceful eviction. The family is demanding a thorough probe.
The landlord’s solicitor, Caleb Onwe, rejected claims of any forceful eviction or attack. He said officials visited the property after Olukotun agreed to leave and met him already packing his things and weak inside. Onwe alleged Olukotun told them he was tired of fighting and had taken something he bought from Jakande. He said they called his lawyer and arranged for him to be taken to hospital.
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer Abimbola Adebisi said she could not issue an official statement because the complainant had not returned after filing the report.
The landlord, Chikeluba Francis, did not respond to calls or messages.
The two sides remain at odds over what happened. While Olukotun’s family and lawyer say he died from injuries sustained during an illegal eviction without a court order, the landlord’s team maintains no eviction occurred and claims the pastor had already consumed an unknown substance before they arrived.