Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has accused the Lagos State Government of disobeying a valid court order by demolishing more than 100 houses in the Oworonshoki area of the state.
Falana said the demolitions were carried out in open disregard for a restraining order issued by the Lagos State High Court, which had stopped the government from continuing demolition activities in the area pending the determination of a suit filed by residents.
Last Thursday, Justice Adegboyega Balogun of the Lagos High Court issued an interim order directing the state government and its agents to halt further demolitions in Oworonshoki, after several residents complained that their properties were being pulled down without due process or compensation.
The order specifically restrained the Lagos State Government, its agents, or any third parties from demolishing or creating any new interest in properties located on Ojileru Street, Ososa Extension and Toluwalase Street within the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Area (CDA) in Oworonshoki.
However, Falana said that despite the court’s clear directive, the state government allegedly went ahead with another round of demolitions, destroying several houses and leaving many families homeless.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the senior lawyer condemned the action, describing it as “a flagrant breach and contempt of the subsisting court order.”
“In flagrant breach and contempt of the subsisting court order and upon the service of the court order on them, the defendants mobilised over 50 armed policemen and thugs who fired teargas throughout the night to disperse those protesting the demolition and proceeded to commence a fresh demolition,” Falana said.
He added that the demolition, which reportedly took place in the middle of the night, resulted in the destruction of not less than 100 properties, forcing numerous families to sleep in the open.
“The demolition, which was carried out in the dead of the night, has led to the destruction of not less than 100 properties, with many families displaced. The action of the demolition squad was not authorised by any court,” he said.
Falana described the development as a “sad reminder” of a similar incident that occurred nearly four decades ago when the Lagos State Government also defied a court order.
“The action of the demolition squad is a sad reminder of the aggravated contempt committed by the Lagos State Government 39 years ago in the celebrated case of The Military Governor of Lagos State & Ors. v. Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu & Anor. (1986) 2 NWLR (Pt 18) 621,” Falana said.
He recalled that in that historic case, the Supreme Court had condemned the Lagos State Government for taking the law into its own hands by ejecting the late Biafran leader, Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, from his residence at No. 29 Queen’s Drive, Ikoyi, despite a court order restraining it from doing so.
“Notwithstanding that the country was then under a military junta, the Supreme Court deprecated the action of the Lagos State Government in defying a court order and resorting to self-help. Unfortunately, what happened in Oworonshoki last week shows that history is repeating itself,” Falana added.
The lawyer called on the Lagos State Government to respect the rule of law and immediately stop further demolitions in the affected areas. He also urged the authorities to provide urgent relief and compensation to the displaced residents, many of whom have reportedly been left stranded without shelter.
Residents of Oworonshoki have been protesting against the demolition, claiming that they were neither properly notified nor compensated before their buildings were brought down. Some of them accused government officials of targeting poor and middle-income communities while sparing highbrow areas with similar land disputes.
One resident, who identified himself as Mr. Shola Adebisi, said the demolition began suddenly and caught everyone unprepared.
“They came at night with bulldozers and police officers. We showed them the court order, but they ignored it. Now we have nowhere to sleep,” he lamented.
The Lagos State Government is yet to officially respond to Falana’s allegations or the claims by residents. However, government officials had earlier said the demolitions were part of efforts to clear illegal structures along drainage channels and waterways to prevent flooding in the state.
Falana vowed to take further legal steps to ensure that those responsible for violating the court order are held accountable.
“No government is above the law. The Lagos State Government must immediately halt this lawlessness and comply with the court order. Anything short of that is a contempt of court that must be punished,” he warned.
As at the time of filing this report, displaced families in Oworonshoki were still counting their losses and appealing to both the Lagos State Government and humanitarian agencies for assistance.
