Falana accuses Lagos Govt of defying Court order, demolishing over 100 properties in Oworonshoki
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, has accused the Lagos State Government of demolishing more than 100 properties in Oworonshoki despite a subsisting restraining order issued by the court.
Last Thursday, Justice Adegboyega Balogun of the Lagos State High Court granted an interim injunction halting further demolitions in parts of Oworonshoki. The order followed complaints from affected residents who said they had not received compensation for their demolished homes.
The restraining order directed the respondents, their agents, and contractors to stop all demolitions or third-party transactions involving properties located on Ojileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Street within the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Area (CDA).
However, the state government allegedly went ahead with the demolitions, a move Falana strongly condemned.
In a statement on Sunday, the senior lawyer said the exercise, carried out in defiance of the court’s directive, had left many families homeless.
“In flagrant breach and contempt of a valid court order—and despite being served with it—the defendants mobilised over 50 armed policemen and thugs who fired teargas throughout the night to disperse protesters and then began a fresh round of demolitions,” Falana said.
He added that the demolitions, which took place under the cover of darkness, led to the destruction of over 100 properties, displacing scores of residents. “The action of the demolition squad was not sanctioned by any court,” he stressed.
Falana described the government’s action as reminiscent of the “aggravated contempt” shown nearly four decades ago in the landmark case of Military Governor of Lagos State & Ors. v. Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu & Anor. (1986) 2 NWLR (Pt 18) 621, where the Supreme Court condemned the Lagos State Government for flouting a court order and resorting to self-help.
He reminded the government of the late Justice Obaseki’s pronouncement in that case, which remains a guiding principle of the rule of law:
“In an area where the rule of law operates, the rule of self-help by force is abandoned. Nigeria, being a nation that loudly proclaims adherence to the rule of law, must not permit the rule of force to prevail. Once a dispute arises between a citizen and the government and is brought before the court, it is the government’s duty to allow the legal process to take its full course.”
Falana therefore urged the Lagos State Government to respect judicial authority and halt all further demolitions pending the determination of the case before the court.