Femi Falana accuses Lagos govt of demolitions against court order

Femi Falana, a prominent human-rights lawyer, has accused the Lagos State Government of demolishing over 100 properties in Oworonshoki in defiance of a valid court order that prohibited such actions. In a statement made on Sunday, Falana claimed that the government disregarded this court order, which they had been informed about, engaging in what he describes as a “flagrant breach and contempt” of the law.

He reported that “more than 50 armed policemen and thugs” were deployed to disperse protesting residents with tear gas, after which they began a new wave of demolitions.

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Falana emphasized that the nighttime demolitions were not sanctioned by any court, resulting in the destruction of at least 100 homes. He compared the situation to a landmark 1986 Supreme Court case where the Lagos State Government was condemned for ignoring a court ruling, stating that such lawlessness should not be tolerated, especially by a democratic government nearly 40 years later.

The conflict arises from a demolition injunction issued by the Lagos State High Court, led by Adegboyega Balogun, which ordered the state government and its representatives to cease any further demolitions or the establishment of third-party interests in properties along Ojileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Street within the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Area (CDA).

Residents have complained that they had not received compensation prior to the demolition plans, and the court’s interim order aimed to halt the demolitions until compensation and legal matters were resolved.