Lagos Businesswoman Sues Redbrick Homes International Over Alleged Breach of Contract
OpenLife News reports that a Lagos businesswoman, Mrs. Oladapo Agoro, has dragged Redbrick Homes International Limited before a Lagos High Court sitting at Ajah over alleged breach of contract and unlawful levies in respect of properties at Amen Estate, Eleko Beach Road, Ibeju-Lekki.
In a statement of claim filed on her behalf by Barrister Olanrewaju Ayanwale, the claimant stated that by a Deed of Sub-Lease dated 8th May, 2018, Redbrick Homes International Limited, a real estate development company, assigned to her Plots 5 & 6 of a Block in its Amen Estate, Eleko Beach Road, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos for valuable consideration.
She averred that she was persuaded by the defendant’s official, Mrs. Folasade Gbadamosi, to allow the company handle the development of the plots, and subsequently contracted the company to develop the plots into 4 wings of 3-bedroom terrace houses with residential quarters for household staff.
According to her, the building project was to last two years with full payment to be made within the same period in instalments.
However, about a year into the project, after she had paid more than 50% of the agreed construction cost, the defendant allegedly began to introduce strange terms and conditions intended to force her to pay more and interfere with her quiet enjoyment of the properties.
The claimant stated that on 1st June, 2021, the defendant issued a circular to purchasers in Amen Estate for an upward review of costs due to inflation caused by Naira devaluation.
Knowing that her own construction cost had already been adjusted for inflation, she ignored the circular, but was surprised when her outstanding building cost was increased by 40%, like other house buyers in the estate.
She resisted the 40% increase and demanded proof of the alleged inflation on building components. The defendant, instead, insisted the matter be referred to mediation.
The mediation was conducted by one Olasupo Ojo, Esq.
The claimant alleged that during the mediation, when she complained that the 40% demand was unjustified, Mrs. Sade Gbadamosi declared that if she refused to pay, the company would not proceed with or complete the construction and no one else would do it.
She said she became distressed because no other contractor could take over the project as access to the estate would likely be blocked on Mrs. Gbadamosi’s orders.
On advice to be prudent and pay first and recover later, she paid an extra N15 million and also bore the full N4 million cost of the mediation after the defendant refused to share the cost as agreed, bringing the extra payment to N19 million.
Despite the payment, the claimant alleged that the 4 terrace buildings delivered to her were shoddily built and poorly finished and unfit for human habitation.
She said she complained several times with video evidence to no avail.
She stated that in its response dated 21st May, 2025, the defendant did not deny that the houses were unfit but retorted that she should have waited for the defendant to assess the damage and remedy it.
The defendant also refused her demand for refund of remedial costs she incurred.
The claimant further alleged that the defendant recently demanded N90 million from her as contribution towards a proposed gas turbine electricity generating plant in Amen Estate.
She refused, stating she had already installed solar panels to supplement public power supply. She said the notice for the payment stated it was optional, but the defendant insisted it was mandatory.
She said on legal advice, she viewed the demand as a possible ruse to declare her in default and seize her properties, since the defendant controls all access into and out of the estate.
She also alleged further demands for development levy and connection fees which were either already part of the purchase price or strange to her agreement, and that on 29th April, 2026, the defendant prevented her tenant from entering the estate until the forced sums were paid.
The claimant stated that the alleged extortion of N19 million was reported to the Police at Zone 2, Onikan, Lagos, but the Managing Director has refused to honour police invitations, claiming to be outside the country and sending delegates without authority to commit the company to repayment.
She alleged she was informed by the police that over 10 complaints had been lodged against the Managing Director which she failed to honour.
She also alleged that during purported repairs of her houses, the defendant’s security men were caught breaking into, stealing and damaging her property, including 8 expensive cables and damage to one of her structures, as well as theft of a real estate signage installed to attract tenants.
The incidents were reported to the site manager and the police.
In addition, she said the defendant recently sent notices for payment of service charges and gardening charges not provided for in her contract. She stated that the service charge agreed in 2018 with the then Managing Director, Mr. Tunde Gbadamosi, was less than 5%, but Mrs. Gbadamosi kept increasing it despite the houses being unoccupied.
She contends that by these acts, the defendant breached its contractual obligation to allow her peaceful possession and enjoyment of her premises, causing her serious inconvenience, emotional distress, annoyance and financial loss, and has unjustly enriched itself.
Reliefs Sought
The claimant is therefore seeking from the court:
1. A declaration that by its failure to perform the building contract at the agreed cost already adjusted for inflation and deliver habitable terraces, the defendant was in breach of the building contract;
2. A declaration that the claimant is entitled to recovery of all proven losses from the breach;
3. A declaration that all charges complained of as extraneous to the contract are illegal, null, void and unenforceable;
4. An order directing the defendant to make full restitution for all proven monetary losses occasioned by breach of contract and theft/damage to property by its staff;
5. An order restraining the defendant from levying on the claimant, her privies and premises any charges not provided for in the contract;
6. An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, its privies and agents from barring or disturbing the ingress, egress and movement of the claimant, her staff, tenants and privies in Amen Estate or preventing their peaceful enjoyment and occupation;
7. General damages for breach of contract;
8. Pre-judgment interest of 20% on any judgment sum awarded;
9. Costs of the action in the sum of N5 million.
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