The legal battle between Chief Isaac Morakinyo Jolapamo, former president of the Nigerian Shipowners Association (NISA), and his ex-wife, Ms. Olufunke Otti, a former NTA staff member, over the ownership of properties located at 23A and 23B Olusegun Aina Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, has taken a fresh twist.
Chief Jolapamo has returned to the Lagos State High Court to oppose his ex-wife’s application for a stay of execution of the judgment which recently declared him the rightful owner of the disputed property.
In a counter-affidavit filed before the court, Chief Jolapamo argued that despite securing victory in the suit, he remains shut out of the property and continues to suffer financial hardship.
According to him, since Ms. Otti allegedly took over the property, he has been denied access to retrieve his personal belongings. He further stated that he has been living in hotels, a situation he said has taken a heavy financial and emotional toll on him.
He also alleged that, without his consent, Ms. Otti unlawfully removed his two Toyota Land Cruiser SUVs with registration numbers KSF 11 AG and MJ 48 JJJ from the disputed property while the case was still pending in court.
He claimed this has left him without personal vehicles, forcing him to depend on chartered transportation for his daily movement.
Chief Jolapamo further stated in the affidavit that despite a subsisting caveat reportedly placed on the property at the Lagos State Land Registry since December 15, 2020, Ms. Otti allegedly went ahead in 2024 to advertise and offer portions of the property for sale.
He disclosed that one Mr. Olatunji Olowolayemo, who reportedly purchased part of the property, later contacted his lawyers, claiming he was unaware that the property was under litigation.
While noting that he is not opposed to his ex-wife exercising her right of appeal, Chief Jolapamo argued that granting a stay of execution would further worsen his financial, emotional, and psychological wellbeing. He therefore urged the court to refuse the application.
The relationship between Chief Jolapamo and Ms. Otti reportedly began at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), where the businessman had gone to seek spiritual help over his declining business fortunes. Their relationship later blossomed into marriage, which was formalised in 2017 at the Federal Marriage Registry, Ikoyi, Lagos.
Chief Jolapamo entrusted his wife with the sale of two vessels — M.T. MOR PROSPERITY and M.T. MOR POWER — with instructions that the proceeds be used to acquire property in Parkview Estate, Ikoyi.
However, he later discovered that the property was allegedly purchased solely in Ms. Otti’s name instead of jointly or in his own name.
He only became aware of this after a trip abroad, when his wife allegedly sent him a WhatsApp message informing him that she was no longer interested in the marriage and directing him to vacate what she described as “her house.”
Chief Jolapamo subsequently approached the court, and on March 26, 2026, Justice Olufolake Olufolashade Adewunmi-Oshin of the Lagos State High Court, in Suit No. LD/3034/2022, ruled that he is the rightful owner of the property.
The court also ordered Ms. Otti to refund N410 million to Chief Jolapamo, being the balance from the proceeds of the sale of the two vessels. She was further directed to pay N63 million as rents allegedly collected from the property, in addition to N5 million awarded as general damages.
While the property dispute was ongoing in Lagos, the former couple were also engaged in divorce proceedings before the Osun State High Court sitting in Oshogbo.
The marriage was eventually dissolved by the Osun State High Court on March 28, 2025.
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