A Lagos High Court judge has stepped down from presiding over a controversial land forgery case, returning the matter to the Chief Judge (CJ) of Lagos State for reassignment.
Justice Abiola Shitta-Bey, who was handling the case involving allegations of forged land documents in the highbrow Lekki area, announced the decision during Thursday’s proceedings. She explained that issues raised by both parties in the suit warranted the intervention of the Chief Judge to determine the appropriate court to hear the matter.
The case, which has dragged on for months, centers on accusations of falsified title documents used in the transfer of prime property worth billions of naira. While the prosecution insists it has substantial evidence against the defendants, the defence has consistently challenged the jurisdiction of the court and alleged bias.
Justice Shitta-Bey noted that the integrity of the judicial process must be upheld at all times, stressing that “it is in the interest of justice that this matter be referred back to the Honourable Chief Judge for further directives.”
The ruling effectively suspends trial until the Lagos State Chief Judge decides whether to reassign the case to another judge or return it to Justice Shitta-Bey for continuation.
Legal observers say the development could further delay proceedings, even as questions linger over the authenticity of land ownership documents across the state.
The case has attracted public interest due to the high-value property involved and its potential implications for real estate transactions in Lagos.
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