In a move that startled fans and shook Nigeria’s entertainment landscape, veteran comedian Atunyota Alleluya Akpobome, better known as Ali Baba, was evicted from a luxurious Victoria Island property that had housed his company’s studios, XQZMOI TV. The eviction, carried out by bailiffs of the Federal High Court in Lagos under a writ of possession dated August 15, 2025, was the culmination of a legal battle initiated by the Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
At the core of the dispute was a property located at 324A Akin Ogunlewe Street. AMCON claimed to have acquired the property (previously owned by Harold Expansion Industries Nigeria Limited) after the company defaulted on loans to the tune of ₦617 million, restructured in 2008. AMCON sold the property to Ali Baba in 2021 for ₦220 million, even though the matter was still before the courts and there was an order for the property to remain preserved during litigation.
However, in a twist that surprised many, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa dismissed AMCON’s case on July 31, 2025. The court found that AMCON failed to produce the defendant’s statement of account, a critical piece of evidence in a creditor’s claim. Worse still, AMCON did not file a response to Harold Expansion’s counterclaim. Under Section 131(1) of the Evidence Act 2011, the absence of these documents proved fatal to their case. The judgment not only voided the sale but also awarded the property back to the original owner’s family and ordered AMCON to pay ₦500 million in damages.
Bailiffs enforced the ruling late August 2025, compelling Ali Baba and XQZMOI to vacate the premises. The property, a twin duplex overlooking the Atlantic Ocean, had served as the production base for his media operations. According to reports, Ali Baba had initially been a tenant of the late owner before the controversial eviction and sale by AMCON. The eviction not only stripped him of a valuable asset but also disrupted his creative enterprise.
Behind the headlines, this eviction spotlights the key players and their roles. AMCON, the government’s bad-debt recovery agency, had moved against Harold Expansion on behalf of the now-defunct Bank PHB (Keystone Bank), claiming loan defaults that justified repossession and sale. In an unusual turn, the court emphatically sided with Harold Expansion, citing procedural lapses and a lack of solid evidence from AMCON. The judge’s reasoning hinged on fundamental principles: absent proper documentation and failure to respond to counterclaims, AMCON’s case could not stand.
For Ali Baba, the stakes were deeply personal. Having purchased the property in 2021, the comedian had established it as the heart of XQZMOI TV, his creative platform. The sudden loss of this asset threatens not only his business operations but also raises questions about due diligence in acquisitions clouded by pending litigation. Though he was a tenant turned buyer, his purchase occurred in the grey area between a pending court order and a public sale. Now, the courts have unwound that purchase completely.
Moreover, the litigation raises broader concerns about AMCON’s handling of asset sales. The court’s verdict underscores the importance of procedural integrity and transparent documentation. AMCON’s failure to produce account statements and to engage with counterclaims proved costly, not just in judicial judgment but in damages awarded. The ₦500 million penalty, plus the embarrassment, highlights that enforcement without full evidence can backfire.
For Harold Expansion Industries, the ruling was vindication after years of claim and dispute. The court effectively restored their property rights and provided reparation through damages. For Ali Baba, the episode may serve as a cautionary tale about business acquisitions under duress, and a complex legal landscape where even well-intended deals can unravel.
In the aftermath, Ali Baba must scramble to relocate his studio, rebuild his media operations disrupted by forceful eviction, and potentially unwind the financial losses tied to an asset the court deemed improperly acquired. Whether he will challenge the verdict or negotiate with Harold Expansion is unclear. For now, the courtroom drama unceremoniously ended with bailiffs at his door, and a stark reminder that even comedy has a serious side when property and law collide.
Samuel Aina