Mention one property player today in Lagos who has carved a niche for himself in his area of specialisation, the person is Otunba Tomori Williams. A young man who has distinguished himself in the property sector. What he does is to help individuals/families reclaim their properties from squatters and illegal occupants. He has successfully won over 10 cases and presently, he’s representing over 15 families on land matters.
Otunba Tomori Williams had his secondary education at the Ilogbo High School, Ebute-Metta, Lagos. He proceeded to the Obafemi Awolowo University in Ile-Ife in 1989, where he studied at the Faculty of Arts,specialising in sculpture. He graduated as the only sculptor in the department in the year 1993.
He started his work with his mentor, Barrister Anthony Akpovi as the General Manager of Olotu Property. Now, he is the MD/CEO T. Williams Construction Nig. Ltd., the Managing Director of Olaleye Property and Investment Ltd, MD Maintek Property and MD Olaleye New Town Developments Ltd. His various working expertise include Real estate developments, Construction, property repossession, and Consultancy.
Two weeks back, City People duo, ISAAC ABIMBADE and BAMIDELE OLUSOLA, were at his Lagos office where he revealed a lot about his job and many other things.
Let’s congratulate you on your recent birthday celebration. How has it been for you?
Thank you very much. Birthday is one of the most important days in man’s life, and personally I have never had any attachment to my birthdays; I just see it as another day on earth. But I use the day to glorify Almighty, to thank Him for His mercies over the years, and also thank Him for everything. He has done for me.
For the benefit of those who don’t know much about you, how can you describe yourself?
I’m a down to earth person. I’m a straightforward and very simple person.
Coming down to real estate where you play big. What do people know you for, a builder or contractor?
We need to make some clarifications. I’m not really the person who built those houses(Mutual Benefit Housing Estate here in Olaleye), but I was the ‘architect’ behind it. It’s a project that started way back in 2002 when I was consulted to assist in a building and re-engineering the entire landscape called the old Olaleye. All I did then was to try and work closely with the state government to see maybe we could bring into fruition the noble idea of the then governor, Raji Fashola. We felt the millennium development and also the idea of turning Lagos into a mega city could start from there. What we did was to try and reclaim the entire community which used to be a slum and to get a court order for possession, that has how we started.
Who is Otunba Tomori Williams?
Otunba Tomori Williams is someone from a humble background. I was born and brought up in Ebute Metta. I was born to the late Emmanuel Babatunde Williams (My father) and the late Madam Awawu Williams (My mother). I attended Livingstone Academy, Ebute Metta, now defunct. I later proceeded to Ilogbo High School, also in Ebute Metta. I completed my secondary education in 1986.
I proceeded to the Obafemi Awolowo University in 1989 and I graduated in 1993. I was the only sculptor who graduated from Fine Art Department in 1993. I did my NYSC in Adamawa and I came back to Lagos to join the company of Barrister Tony Akpovi. I started with him as the General Manager of his property company. He gave me good working experience in property. I can say that I cut my teeth under him. He nurtured me until 2 years later when I met the late Chief Alhaji Tajudeen Adegunle in 2002/03. Alhaji brought me up in the act of property repossession, reclamation and property development.
It was under Alhaji that I was able to expand on my property work when I had an opportunity to reclaim the old Olaleye. Alhaji started the job, but to God be the glory, myself in conjunction with some people (the like of the late Barrister Kunle Laleye, High Chief Yusuf Akinlaja) were able to levy execution on Olaleye community. What we did as regards to Olaleye community was to bring life, development, modern infrastructure to the old Olaleye.
Can you significantly tell us what you have done since then?
To God be the glory, I happen to be the first and only property player who has done the largest single demolition repossession in Lagos without blood shedding or violence. Also in 2014, I was able to levy execution on some properties in Gbagada. It was a very successful operation. The judgement on that land was against the Lagos State Government. Till date, I’m the attorney to over 15 families in Lagos, including Oloto family. I’m the attorney representing Oloto family on land matters anywhere in Lagos. I’m also an attorney to Egunaye of Oregun, Ajose Oregun. I’m an attorney to Oshoro Royal family, where they have recently crown a king, Oba Jamiu, and some other families.
What is the main challenge you think the government should tackle to help the players in the sector?
Funding. We want a situation whereby government could give us better leverage. My major area of specialisation is to assist families that are endowed with land but for one thing or the other they could not access the land.
We want government to come in and assist us. On the aspect of Omo-Onile (land grabbers), the meaning of Omo-Onile is someone from a land owning family, but Omo-Onile has a derogatory meaning. It’s used for thurggery and violence. Government should clamp down on any group or agency that uses violence to disrupt peace and forcefully taking over properties or land.
Are you saying some agents are Omo-Onile?
Yes, some agents are Omo-Onile. Some agents will not take time to do their due diligence. Some of them are not even lettered; They preferably go through the process of hiring thugs, take them to site, and give them drugs and weapons to attack the rightful owners and illegal squatters.
Lagos state government has tried its best by establishing the Task Force on land grabbers, but the law itself is faulty; There are lots of areas in the law that need serious consideration and amendment, but by and large, even when you have a property that is in the wrong hand, the law doesn’t permit you to go into that property to displace whoever is there. The law specifies that you should go through the process of legal clearance.
You go to court to get a judgement and when you get the judgement, you would now use it to enforce the verdict through the office of Deputy Sheriff, through the office of the Commissioner of Police, so that you can have the semblance of legality.
What name can you be called as a player in the sector?
I do construction works, but the difference between me and the average property developer is that, they either go scouting for land, buying land or going into joint venture partnership. But I Create land myself. What do I mean by that? I help people repossess their land and whatever cut I get from the land, I develop it. I help people repossess from squatters, from unlawful occupants, once the land is delivered to me legally, then I develop a part of it and I sell some of them.
The agreement would have come during the process of negotiation. It will be spelt out clearly that if you are able to get us back our land, we will give you 20/30 percent of whatever you recover. So, from whatever I recovered I get my cut.
Are you a lawyer?
No, I’m not a lawyer; attorney does not really mean a lawyer. The definition of attorney is not really clear to some people. A legal attorney is different from property attorney.
My job as an attorney is to represent families on their land, to help them do what they couldn’t do vis-a-viz the expertise. I work closely with lawyers, I work closely with surveyors, I work closely with Nigeria Police. These are experts we use for repossession. The lawyers help to find out if there is a legitimate claim over a property, if there is need for me to go court.
How many cases have you won so far?
I’ve won over 10 cases.
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