Federal High Court Orders Eviction of Ali Baba and XQZMOI TV from N220 Million Victoria Island Property

By Joseph Iyaji | Akahi News

Popular comedian Atunyota Akpobome, widely known as Ali Baba, and his entertainment company, XQZMOI TV, have been evicted from a multi-million-naira property on Victoria Island, Lagos, following a judgment of the Federal High Court.

The property, valued at over N220 million and located at 324A Akin Ogunlewe Street, Victoria Island, had for years served as the operational base and studio of XQZMOI TV, a creative hub for Ali Baba’s television and media productions.

Court Judgment Favors Harold Expansion Industries

Delivering judgment on 31 July 2025, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa dismissed a suit filed by the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) and ordered that the property be returned to the family of its late owner and their company, Harold Expansion Industries Nigeria Limited.

The court held that AMCON failed to substantiate its claims regarding the alleged indebtedness of Harold Expansion to the defunct Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), for which AMCON claimed to have acquired the debt before selling the property to Ali Baba in 2021 for N220 million.

According to court records, AMCON alleged that Harold Expansion owed N617 million in unpaid loans dating back to 2008. However, the company, represented by its lawyer, Benjamin Sadibo, insisted the N129 million facility in question had been restructured in 2009, with all repayments deducted directly from its accounts, leaving no outstanding debts.

Enforcement of the Writ of Possession

Following the judgment, the court issued a writ of possession on 15 August, and the Bailiffs enforced the eviction on 28 August, officially restoring the property to the Harold Expansion family after more than a decade-long legal battle.

Legal analysts told Akahi News that the ruling underscored the principle that the burden of proof rests on the claimant—in this case, AMCON—which failed to provide crucial evidence such as Harold Expansion’s statement of account to establish the alleged debt.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa noted that AMCON not only failed to tender essential documents but also neglected to file a defence to Harold Expansion’s counterclaim, leaving the court with no choice but to rule in favour of the company.

“Where a defendant counterclaims against a claimant, the latter is duty-bound to file a defence to the counterclaim; otherwise, the court is obliged to assume that the claimant has no defence,” the judge stated.

Background of the Dispute

The dispute dates back to 2008 when AMCON, through Bank PHB, claimed Harold Expansion defaulted on a loan facility. After acquiring the debt, AMCON proceeded to sell the property to Ali Baba in 2021 as part of its debt recovery exercise.

However, Harold Expansion maintained that the loan had been fully restructured and serviced, accusing AMCON of wrongfully selling its property. The company filed a counterclaim seeking the reversal of the sale, a declaration of no indebtedness, repossession of the property, and N500 million in damages.

The court, in its judgment, upheld these prayers, ruling that AMCON’s failure to defend the counterclaim automatically entitled Harold Expansion to the reliefs sought.

Implications for Ali Baba and XQZMOI TV

With the enforcement of the court order, Ali Baba and his XQZMOI TV have lost access to the prime Victoria Island property overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. The development represents a major setback for the comedian’s media ventures, as the property had served as a creative hub for content production and entertainment projects.

Industry observers told Akahi News that the eviction could have significant implications for XQZMOI TV’s operations unless alternative arrangements are made quickly.

The ruling marks the end of a protracted legal dispute spanning more than a decade, restoring the property to its rightful owners while raising fresh questions about AMCON’s debt recovery processes and due diligence practices.

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