Veteran Nigerian comedian Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, popularly known as Ali Baba, has been evicted from his multi-million-naira Victoria Island property following a lengthy ownership dispute.
The property, located at 324A Akin Ogunlewe Street, Victoria Island, was purchased by Ali Baba in 2021 through his company, XQZMOI TV, from the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) for ₦220 million, according to Eyes of Lagos.
The building had been seized by AMCON, which claimed it was recovering debts allegedly owed by Harold Expansion Industries Nigeria Limited. The company, however, disputed the debt, insisting that repayments had been completed.
Harold Expansion’s lawyer, Benjamin Olayiwola Sadibo, argued that AMCON wrongfully sold the property while litigation was still ongoing.
On July 31, 2025, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court delivered a decisive ruling. The judge dismissed AMCON’s case, citing insufficient evidence of the alleged debt.
AMCON was unable to provide a statement of account to support its claims and failed to file a defence against Harold Expansion’s counterclaim. With no defence presented, the court ruled in favour of Harold Expansion, restoring ownership of the property to the original family and awarding ₦500 million in damages.
Ali Baba purchased the property while the legal dispute was still active, despite an existing preservation order. Court records indicate he had previously been a tenant under the property’s original owners, who were evicted when AMCON took control and sold it.
On August 15, 2025, Federal High Court bailiffs executed a writ of possession, evicting Ali Baba and his company from the property.
The case highlights the risks of buying properties involved in legal disputes. Despite paying ₦220 million, Ali Baba now faces the loss of his Victoria Island property because the original debt claim that prompted AMCON’s seizure was dismissed in court.
The comedian has yet to comment publicly on the eviction.
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