Veteran Nigerian singer, Ms. Uche Ibeto, popularly known as the ‘Jigida Queen’ and now in her 70s, has been forcibly evicted from her Surulere, Lagos residence by her elder sister, Laura Okoh, allegedly in connivance with a judicial officer and Cecil Ezem Osakwe.
In the late 1980s, Uche Ibeto rose to stardom, earning the title ‘Jigida Queen’ after her hit song Jigida. Her fluid dance moves and captivating choreography, both on screen and stage, won her widespread admiration.
Twice, the federal government sponsored her to represent Nigeria at international music concerts, where she showcased her talent and upheld the nation’s image with pride.
Ms. Ibeto, through her lawyer Onwubualili Sylvester, has petitioned the Chief Judge of Lagos State and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, alleging that her elder sister, Laura Okoh, and a judicial officer conspired to illegally evict her from her late mother’s property in Surulere, Lagos.
In an interview with SaharaReporters on Monday, Ibeto explained that the property—a one-storey building—had been her residence for more than 50 years, where she lived with her late mother until her death in 2013.
According to her, a judgment delivered on July 10, 2025, transferred possession and ownership of the building to Cecil Ezem Osakwe, who claimed to have purchased it from the estate administrators led by Mrs. Okoh.
However, Ibeto’s lawyer insists the judgment was secured through “fraudulent means, impersonation, and false depositions,” alleging that Osakwe relied on fake documents, including an undated Contract of Sale Agreement and a Deed of Assignment.
The petition further alleges that during the eviction, Ibeto’s belongings valued at over N500 million were stolen or destroyed, while tenants’ properties were sealed inside the building.
Giving the details of the eviction, her lawyer stated: “It is with great shock and dismay that we tell this sad story on the display of what appears to be, gross negligence by a judicial officer, bias and aiding the improper use of the Court system to promote criminal activities of a notorious land grabbing syndicate to the detriment of innocent Nigerians, and further questions the integrity of the judiciary at large in Nigeria.”
Background
The petition stated that the late Mrs. Esther Uche Ibeto, who died intestate in June 2013, had three surviving children: Laura Okoh, Ifeoma Stella Ilodibe, and Uche Ibeto.
The property in dispute is a one-storey building at No. 36 Ibezim Obiajulu Street, Off Marsha Road, Surulere, Lagos, where Uche Ibeto had lived with her mother for over five decades.
A letter of administration was allegedly granted to Laura Okoh and Ifeoma Ilodibe to manage only the personal estate of the deceased, excluding the Surulere property.
However, on August 15, 2025, Uche Ibeto’s residence was reportedly invaded by policemen, thugs, and court sheriffs who enforced a judgment delivered on July 10, 2025, awarding ownership of the property to Cecil Ezem Osakwe. The judgment arose from a suit between Osakwe and the two elder sisters, even though neither Uche Ibeto nor her tenants—who occupied the building—were joined as parties to the case or served court processes.
“Uche Ibeto properties worth over N500 million were stolen and damaged during the purported eviction, and the properties of her legal tenants were sealed up in the building and thugs have been mounted at the premises since the 15th day of August, 2025,” the petition said.
“That Uche Ibeto has five legal tenants occupying the said premises whose tenancies are still valid and subsisting.”
Document
Laura Okoh memorandum of appearance (1).pdf
Ibeto’s lawyer alleged that Cecil Ezem Osakwe and his associates had already commenced illegal construction and demolition on the disputed property while tenants’ belongings remained locked inside their apartments and offices.
He argued that the judgment underpinning the eviction was secured through fraud, deceit, impersonation, suppression of facts, and falsified documents, stressing that neither Uche Ibeto nor her tenants were parties to the suit
Highlighting irregularities, he noted that the Claimant’s counsel, Victor Giwa, was also listed as part of the Defendant’s law firm, KC Joshua & Co, which filed the suit on behalf of the Defendant. Despite this conflict, the court accepted appearances from both sides without caution, effectively allowing the Claimant’s lawyer to appear for both parties.
“The second daughter, Mrs Ifeoma Stella Ilodibe who was purportedly sued as second defendant was never aware of the said suit, and never served with the processes neither did she engaged the services of any lawyer to represent her in the proceeding,” the lawyer said.
The petition raised serious concerns over irregularities in the service of court processes and the authenticity of documents relied upon in the judgment. It alleged that the affidavit of service claimed both defendants were served on the same day and at the same address, even though the second defendant lived elsewhere and was never served. Despite this, court filings—including a memorandum of appearance and affidavit—were curiously submitted within 24 hours by a lawyer the second defendant said she never engaged.
It further stated that key exhibits presented by the claimant, Cecil Ezem Osakwe, including a Contract of Sale Agreement and Deed of Assignment, were falsified. The documents allegedly misrepresented the scope of the estate’s letter of administration and cited a registered instrument that, upon investigation, was found to belong to a completely different property and holder in Alimosho, Lagos.
The petition also highlighted suspicious overlaps in the addresses used by the claimant and one of the defendants, suggesting collusion and impersonation aimed at misleading the court.
The music artist is seeking a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the suit and the execution of the judgment.
“That there be a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the clandestine suit filed, heard, concluded and execution levied in such a hasty manner without the knowledge or involvement of the victims,” the petition added.
