A Lagos state High Court presided over by Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo, in Igbosere, Lagos state, has in a judgment stopped the government of Lagos State Government from further evicting settlers of several waterfront communities in Lagos, as the court declared the eviction unconstitutional.
The judgment was made as a result of a suit filed in 2016, by 33 applicants on behalf of themselves and other residents of the settlements which included Otodo Gbame, Tomaro, Otumara, Orisunmibare, Oko Agbon, Itun Atan, Sogunro, the Ikorodu communities of Ofin, Bayeku, Olufunke Majidun and the Bariga communities of Ago Egun and Ebute-Ilaje.
The suit was filed against the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, the governor, and the Commissioner of Police who are the first, second, third and fourth respondents respectively.
Justice Onigbanjo also ordered the parties to meet and discuss how to resolve the relocation of the residents. The judgment was earlier stalled in April 12, when the court suo moto (on its own motion) raised the issue of its jurisdiction. However, while its verdict yesterday, the Jusyice Onigbanjo maintained that the matter was properly before the court, and that there was no dispute over the ownership of the land.