Cecil Osakwe, a real estate developer, has bemoaned what he called the persecution of business owners through drawn-out legal proceedings, which he claims has created a hostile business environment in Nigeria.
Osakwe, a lawyer and managing director of Alkire Partners Nig Ltd, is presently embroiled in a number of legal disputes related to real estate investment, including an ongoing ₦300 million action before an Abuja Federal Capital Territory High Court alleging illegal eviction and property damage.
The developer observed that economic success in high-value industries like real estate sometimes results in protracted legal fights when considering court issues that follow real estate investments. He claims that rather than protecting enterprise, the current state of affairs penalizes it.
“Land acquisition continues to be one of the most sensitive aspects of property development in Nigeria,” he continued.
“Developers have to check land titles, negotiate complicated ownership structures, and adhere to legal requirements.” Inadequate due diligence frequently results in disagreements, hold-ups, and monetary losses.
Osakwe and co-defendants, including attorney Victor Giwa, are charged with nine counts of criminal intimidation, threat to life, violent eviction, and destruction of property valued at approximately ₦300 million in case number FCT/HC/CR/222/2023.
Arraignment has been repeatedly postponed as the Director of Public Prosecution considers the charges, causing the process to stagnate.
He pointed out that business disputes that need to be settled through civil procedures are often turned into criminal accusations, which lead to lengthy court appearances and investigations.
Success in high-value industries makes you a target all of a sudden. A civil land dispute swiftly escalates into a criminal matter. The punishment is the process itself.
In policy speeches and investment summits, Nigeria frequently praises entrepreneurship, praising the private sector as the economic engine.
“In actuality, many business owners experience stalled projects that discourage investors, operational disruptions from endless court dates, mounting legal fees, and reputational damage long before any verdict.”
He emphasized that extended litigation might result in lost financing possibilities, expired contracts, abandoned developments, and unstable workforces, emphasizing that time is capital for companies. “The damage to business momentum is often irreversible, even after it is cleared.”
Osakwe also brought attention to growing business community worries over law enforcement authorities’ alleged selective participation in basically commercial conflicts.
He said that the problem has caused many business owners to take a defensive stance, focusing their efforts on risk avoidance and legal protection rather than innovation and growth.
The national economy is harmed by the knock-on effects. Nigeria is in competition with other countries for capital, but investors value institutional fairness and predictability. He continued, “When successful entrepreneurs seem susceptible to legal uncertainty, capital moves elsewhere, local businesses scale cautiously, and informal models flourish over formal, job-creating enterprises.”
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