Lagos, Nigeria: Renowned cultural icon and veteran entertainer, Ms Uche Ibeto—popularly known as the Jigida Queen—has raised a public alarm over what she describes as an unlawful and traumatic eviction from her late mother’s residence in Surulere.
She raised the alarm on Saturday at Surulere during a press briefing.
The 72-year-old, who once represented Nigeria on international stages through music and culture, said that she had been homeless since Aug. 15, following the forceful eviction.
According to her, the property belonged to her mother, Mrs Esther Uche Ibeto, who died in 2013.
Ibeto said that she and her two sisters, Mrs Laura Okoh and Mrs Ifeoma Ilodibe, survived their mother.
She said that trouble began when her eldest sister, Okoh, obtained letters of administration alongside her immediate elder sister, Ilodibe, to manage their mother’s estate, excluding the Surulere house.
The Jigida queen alleged that her sisters secretly pursued a case that resulted in a Lagos High Court judgment on July 10.
Ibeto said she was neither joined in the case nor served any legal notice.
According to her, on Aug. 15, some policemen, court sheriffs and thugs stormed her residence at 6.00 a.m.
She said the team was led by a lawyer, who claimed to represent a person who had bought the house, Mrs Cecil Ezem Osakwe.
“They threw me out while I was still in my nightwear. Properties worth over N500 million, including my works and equipment, were stolen or destroyed during the eviction,” Ibeto said.
She alleged that the title documents presented in court to obtain the eviction notice were fraudulent and unrelated to the property. “I still have the original title documents given to me by my mother,” she said.
Ibeto accused Okoh and her son, Maxwell, of colluding with land grabbers. “Despite a police directive on Sept. 10 for everyone to stay away from the house, thugs loyal to Osakwe still resumed construction work on Sept. 18,” she said.
She said that she had petitioned the Lagos State Government, the Inspector-General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the Nigerian Bar Association, seeking an urgent intervention.
“This is not just a family quarrel. It is a crime against humanity and the state. At over 70, I deserve peace in my mother’s home,” she said.
The Jigida queen vowed to continue her fight until justice was served. When contacted, Okoh said she would respond to the allegations as soon as possible.
