Pecohub Residents of Abdullahi Adamu Estate Obalende, Ikoyi in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State have accused Muslim residents in the estate of allegedly forging documents to secure illegal approval for the construction of a two-storey mosque on the estate’s car park and recreational area in violation of the estate master plan.
Executive Council members of the estate have, therefore, petitioned the state government to stop and demolish the ongoing construction work in the estate in order to avert what could snowball into a major religious crisis in the state.
In a petition dated December 12, 2025, addressed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, the estate leadership alleged that approval for the mosque was fraudulently obtained from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) using a letter purportedly written by the estate EXCO; and appealed to the state government to look into the activities of LASPPPA and compel the agency to immediately stop and demolish the building in line with the Contravention Notices earlier issued by the agency.
The petition accused the two Muslim members of the Estate association, Naziru Abubakar, the secretary and the vice Chairman, Ibrahim Ismaila Gwarzo of allegedly using a letter purportedly written by the estate EXCO to misrepresent the EXCO and secure approval from the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority (LASPPPA) for the construction of the mosque which had earlier been halted by the same agency following the controversy that trailed it.
The EXCO noted that the land in dispute is designated as a car park and recreational area under the estate’s master plan, which does not provide for the construction of any religious building in the estate.
Tracing the origin of the dispute, the petition stated that about eight years ago, Muslim residents began using the open recreational space as a prayer ground.
Even though there is a mosque directly opposite the estate at ijeh barraks, there is a central mosque at Dolphin estate, a mosque at Dolphin High rise and other mosques at Obalende road, all within 5 to 10mins walk or drive from the Estate. The residents being tolerant and peaceful did not object at the time because no permanent structure was erected on the land.
However, the situation changed in January 2023, when construction of a mosque allegedly commenced on the site in violation of the estate master plan. The estate promptly notified LASPPPA by a letter dated January 16, 2023, following which the agency issued a contravention notice and halted the construction.
The petition further disclosed that the General Manager of LASPPPA, Kehinde Osinaike, along with other officials, later met with estate residents and EXCO members. At the meeting, the LASPPPA management reportedly reaffirmed that the estate master plan did not permit a religious structure and advised that consent of all property owners and residents would be required before such development could proceed.
Despite this, residents were reportedly alarmed in July 2025 to learn that approval for the mosque was again being processed. The EXCO said it wrote to the LASPPPA on 14 July 2025, copying His Excellency, the Governor and the Attorney-General of Lagos State, to object to the development.
