A 67-year-old tenant, Pastor Bolaji Olukotun, has died following a controversial property takeover at the Admiralty Homes Estate in Lekki, Lagos.
The family and legal team of the deceased allege he was assaulted and forcefully evicted by agents of his landlord, while the landlord’s legal representative claims the tenant took a lethal substance.
The incident occurred on Saturday, July 11, 2026. Pastor Olukotun tragically passed away in the early hours of the following Sunday after being rushed to a private medical facility.
Family of Bolaji Olukotun gives account
According to the victim’s lawyer, Barrister Akpobome Deniran, the tragedy stemmed from an unresolved rental dispute. Pastor Olukotun had initially occupied the apartment under a rent-to-own agreement.
However, upon the expiration of the lease, he was unable to meet the financial requirements to purchase the property. The landlord subsequently demanded he vacate the premises to clear the way for another buyer.
Deniran recounted receiving a distress call from Olukotun at approximately 2:00 PM on July 11. “He was in obvious distress and pleaded with me to come to his residence immediately, stating, ‘I’m dying, please come to the house, I’m dying.’ His voice was weak, trembling, and laden with pain,” Deniran said.
Upon arriving at the estate, the lawyer reportedly found the pastor lying on the ground in the compound, surrounded by his scattered furniture and household items. Present at the scene were estate agent Blessing Idonor, a prospective buyer identified as Mr Smith (Murphy), a mobile police officer, and over seven armed men.
“He was vomiting, groaning in excruciating pain, and crying out for help,” Deniran stated.
He alleged that when he questioned the legality of the eviction, the team mocked the pastor’s condition, claiming he had ingested a substance and was merely “acting drama.”
The lawyer further alleged that the mobile police officer cocked his rifle and threatened to shoot him in the legs for attempting to photograph the scene.
Due to severe flooding in the area, the victim’s evacuation was delayed until a water truck driver assisted in transporting him to the Udeko Medical Centre in the Chevron area of Lekki, where he later succumbed to his condition.
The deceased’s son, Ayodeji Olukotun, strongly disputed claims that his father voluntarily packed his belongings or opened the door while in agonising pain. He questioned why the estate management granted access to a group of armed men and agents without a warrant, demanding a thorough investigation and justice for his father.
The landlord’s defence
Efforts to reach the landlord, Chikeluba Francis, were unsuccessful. However, the landlord’s solicitor, Caleb Onwe, firmly denied the allegations of assault and forceful eviction.
“Nobody was evicted,” Onwe stated, claiming he was unaware of the tenant’s passing. According to Onwe, the landlord—who resides outside Nigeria—had simply sent representatives, an agent, a prospective buyer, and a police officer to inspect the property after the tenant indicated he was ready to move out.
Onwe claimed that when the team arrived, they found the apartment door open and Pastor Bolaji Olukotun already weak, with his properties packed. “He said that he was tired of fighting, and he took something,” Onwe alleged, asserting that the team did not assault the tenant but instead raised the alarm, contacted his lawyer, and helped arrange medical transport despite the flooded roads.
A colleague of Onwe, Amadi Uche, declined further comment, stating that the principal counsel had already clarified the matter.
Police reaction
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, stated that the command could not issue a definitive official comment at this stage, noting that the complainant had not returned to follow up after the initial incident report was lodged at the Ilasan Police Station.
The exact circumstances surrounding Pastor Olukotun’s death remain under dispute as the family pushes for a formal homicide investigation.
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