By Sola Alabadan
The management of Great Nigeria Insurance Plc (GNI) has clarified the issues surrounding the 25-storey building engulfed by fire recently on the Lagos Island, affirming that the company has no dealings whatsoever with the management and tenants occupying the property since year 2020.
While sympathising with those who might have been affected by the fire incident, the management stated that GNI was granted a long lease of bare land at No. 47/57, Martins Street, Lagos Island by the Shitta-Bey Family and this lease is
due to expire on the 31st of December, 2036.
It is on the said land that GNI erected a 25-storey building for strategic investment purposes.
However, GNI pointed out that it has since been in court with the Shitta-Bey family on the property because the family instituted three separate suits against the company at both the Lagos State High Court and the Federal High Court.
While all the suits were decided in favour of GNI, the family filed separate appeals in the Lagos Judicial Division of the Court of Appeal.
GNI explained that “In the year 2020, during the pendency of these appeals, the Shitta-Bey family, in utter disregard of the court orders
in the suits between it and GNI, and during the subsistence of the unexpired leasehold of GNI; resorted to self-help, forcefully entered, and took over possession of the property.
“The Shitta-Bey family also proceeded to lease out the property to tenants without recourse to GNI.”
As a responsible corporate organisation with its cherished corporate image to protect, GNI followed the legal path by approaching the High Court of Lagos State through a trespass action, the management of GNI added.
Thereafter, tbe High Court ordered the Shitta-Bey family to vacate possession of the property and also restrained the family from continuing with further acts of trespass on the property.
Again, the family, being dissatisfied, appealed against the said ruling of the court.
In the interim, the substantive suit
challenging the family for trespass is still pending at the Lagos Judicial Division of the High Court of Lagos State.
In view of the fact that the management of GNI has been denied physical possession of the property for over five years, the company disowned the management and tenants occupying the property for these years.
While thanking the general public, its numerous stakeholders, especially the customers for their concern, GNI reassured them that this fire incident has not affected its operations in any
way.
GNI stressed that it does not maintain any office in the burnt building, and does no conduct any operations whatsoever therein, pointing out that its head office remains at No. 8 Omo Osagie Street, Off Awolowo Road, S.W, Ikoyi, Lagos and that the company continue to conduct its legitimate businesses therein, and in all its other branches in Nigeria.
