The arraignment of businessman Alhaji Hameed Kasumu and his company, Kings County Property Investment Limited, stalled yesterday at the Lagos State High Court, TBS, due to the defendants’ absence.

They were charged with forcible entry, unlawful possession, and conspiracy over a disputed property at Plot 15, Alexander Avenue, Ikoyi, following a petition by Muhammadu Dahiru Wada.

The prosecutor, Igile Oju, told Justice Abdul-Raheem Tejumade Muyideen that the defendants were served but failed to appear.

“The proof of service is before the court. They are aware of the charge, and I do not know why they are not here,” Oju stated.

Defence counsel, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN), argued that Kasumu was outside the jurisdiction and had not been properly served.

He added that the defence had filed a preliminary objection challenging the court’s jurisdiction.

“We filed the application dated November 5, 2025, and served the prosecution in court. The subject matter concerns land allocated to the second defendant and has been litigated before.

“Where jurisdiction is being challenged, the physical presence of the first defendant is not mandatory,” Adegboruwa said.

Justice Muyideen confirmed that the charge was served on one Mrs. Ruth, said to be an employee of the first defendant.

The prosecutor confirmed that Mrs. Ruth worked at the office of Kasumu, who owns the company.

The court held that proper service had not been effected on Kasumu personally, although service on the company could be deemed sufficient.

The prosecutor then sought an adjournment to regularise service, which the court granted, adjourning the case to January 13, 2026, for the hearing of the preliminary objection.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) in the five-count charge (LD/26902C/2025) alleged that between 2021 and 2023, the defendants conspired to trespass, intimidate, and unlawfully occupy property owned by Wada, in conduct likely to cause fear and breach the peace.

Source; The Nation News