Great Nigeria Insurance Plc (GNI) has broken its silence following a fire outbreak that razed GNI House, a 25-storey property located at No. 47/57 Martins Street, Lagos Island, during the recent Christmas break, raising fresh concerns amid a protracted legal dispute over the building.
In a strongly worded press release, the insurance firm expressed sympathy with individuals and businesses affected by the incident, while distancing itself entirely from the management, occupation, and use of the building, which it said has been out of its physical control for more than five years.
GNI clarified that it holds a valid long-term lease on the land, granted by the Shitta-Bey Family, which is legally binding until December 31, 2036. According to the company, the 25-storey structure was erected by GNI as a strategic investment property, not for office use.
The company disclosed that it has been locked in an extended legal confrontation with the Shitta-Bey Family, who instituted three separate lawsuits at both the Lagos State High Court and the Federal High Court, all of which were decided in favour of GNI.
Despite these court victories, GNI alleged that the family, while appeals were pending at the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, forcefully took over the property in 2020, in clear violation of subsisting court orders and during the unexpired lease period.
“The family resorted to self-help, forcefully entered and took possession of the property,” the company stated, adding that the Shitta-Bey Family went ahead to lease the building to third-party tenants without GNI’s consent or involvement.
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In response, GNI said it initiated a trespass action at the High Court of Lagos State, which subsequently ordered the family to vacate the premises and restrained them from further acts of trespass.
The ruling, however, was appealed by the family, while the substantive trespass suit remains pending before the Lagos High Court.
As a result of these unresolved legal proceedings, GNI said it has been denied access and possession of the property for over five years, stressing that it has had no dealings whatsoever with the building’s occupants or management throughout that period.
While the company stopped short of directly accusing any party, the timing of the fire has raised questions in public discourse about whether the incident could be linked to the long-standing property dispute.
GNI was emphatic that the fire incident had no impact on its business operations, noting that it does not operate from the affected building and has never conducted business activities there.
“Our head office remains at No. 8 Omo Osagie Street, Off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, and our operations continue uninterrupted across Nigeria,” the statement said.
The insurer concluded by thanking its customers, stakeholders, and the general public for their concern, reassuring them of the company’s operational stability and commitment to lawful business practices as investigations into the fire continue.