Justice has finally prevailed for businessman and maritime investor, Chief Isaac Morakinyo Jolapamo, following a landmark judgment of the Lagos High Court which ordered his former wife, Ms. Olufunke Otti, to return a high-value property and refund hundreds of millions of naira found to have been wrongfully withheld from him.
In a judgment delivered on March 26, 2026, in Suit No. LD/3034LM/2022, Justice Olufolake Olufolashade Adewunmi-Oshin ruled that the luxury property located at 23A & B Olusegun Aina Street, Parkview Estate, Ikoyi, Lagos, legally belongs to Chief Jolapamo and not Ms. Otti, a Lagos-based businesswoman and former Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) staff member.
The court subsequently ordered Ms. Otti to relinquish possession of the property to her former husband, bringing an end to years of legal battle over ownership and financial control of assets acquired during their marriage.
Beyond the property dispute, the court also directed Ms. Otti to refund the sum of N410,347,000.00 to Chief Jolapamo, being the outstanding balance from the proceeds generated from the sale of two vessels which are M.T. MOR Prosperity and M.T. Power. In addition, the court ordered her to remit N63 million realised as rental income collected from tenants occupying the Ikoyi property between 2018 and 2021. Justice Adewunmi-Oshin further awarded N5 million in general damages against Ms. Otti.
Court proceedings revealed that the relationship between the former couple began at the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries (MFM), where Chief Jolapamo had sought spiritual guidance and personal support during a challenging period in his life. Ms. Otti, who was described as a senior member of the church, was assigned to assist him, and the relationship later blossomed into marriage.
The couple solemnized their union on February 23, 2017, at the Federal Marriage Registry in Ikoyi, Lagos.
During the marriage, Chief Jolapamo reportedly entrusted Ms. Otti with substantial business responsibilities, including the disposal of two marine vessels. According to court findings, she was instructed to use the proceeds from the sale to acquire a matrimonial home for the family in Parkview Estate.
Although the vessels were sold for N810,347,000.00 and the property was eventually purchased, the court heard that Ms. Otti registered the property exclusively in her own name without informing her husband.
The dispute reportedly escalated after a trip abroad, during which Ms. Otti allegedly sent Chief Jolapamo back to Nigeria before later informing him through a WhatsApp message that she was no longer interested in the marriage and directed him to vacate the residence.
The development triggered a prolonged legal confrontation that lasted several years, with the couple having lived apart since March 2019. Their marriage was eventually dissolved in April 2025.
With the latest court ruling, observers say Chief Jolapamo has now secured judicial vindication and successfully reclaimed both his property rights and financial entitlements after years of litigation.
Legal analysts have described the judgment as a strong affirmation of accountability, transparency and equitable ownership in marital and business relationships, particularly in cases involving jointly acquired assets and fiduciary trust between spouses.
