Family accuses agency of violating court orderA Lagos High Court sitting on Igbosere has stopped the demolition of a five-storey building in the Central Business District in Lagos.The court restrained the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) and others from further demolishing and dismantling the property at 49, Martins, Street, Lagos.Jusstice Hakeem Oshodi granted the injunction pending the determination of the substantive suit.The defendants are the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency(LASURA) and the LASBCA.In the motion on notice filed by theclaimants/applicants,they sought an order restraining the defendants either by themselves, agents, privies or whosoever from erecting any structure, or alienating to the 3rd party (LASBCA) or further interfering in any manner on any part of the property at 49, Martins Street/30, Shitta Street, Lagos Island pending the determination of the substantive suit in this case.Granting the prayers in the suit with number LD/ 7688/2014, Justice Oshodi ordered the respondents to maintain the status quo; he adjourned the matter till January 15, for the hearing of the Motion on Notice.Justice Oshodi ordered: Due to the peculiar nature of the facts of this case, it will be prudent for the court to maintain status quo of the respondents. In this respect, the Court hereby orders that parties, especially the second and third defendants do maintain status quo as at today.The claimant Alhaji Fasasi Adesigbin Oluwole, Afeez Oladimeji Shitta, Alhaja Mutiat Olasumbo Hassan (for the family of late Alhaja Taibat Shitta) and Alhaja Hadikat Talabi had in their suit laying claim to the disputed property at No 49 Martins Street, Lagos which has been a subject of litigation.The claimants in their affidavit had alleged that in spite of the court orders restraining the defendants from further tampering with the disputed property, they at a break neck speed fully demolished the property in dispute in my presence.The problem surrounding the ownership of the land, which had been occupied by the claimants for over 30 years, got out of hands until October 24, this year when it was alleged the agents of the state government aided by security operatives, invaded the property in dispute started removing the burglaries, doors and windows affixed to the property and sending away our tenants out of their shops.According to their 47 paragraphs in support of the motion deposed to by Afeez Shitta, the claimants averred that sequel to this, several efforts were made, including filing of an action challenging the activities of the agents of the government but all to no avails.He stated: The Claimants/ Applicants as a law-abiding citizen instituted this case to prevent and challenge the atrocities of the defendants by their Writ of Summons and Statement of Claim dated and filed on October 28, 2014 and October 29, 2014.According to them, in spite of the service of the processes on the respondents and the order exparte restraining the defendants the demolition continues unabated.As at 26th of November, 2014 when this Honourable Court granted an order exparte, retraining the Defendants from further demolishing the property in dispute, the said property was yet to be fully demolished by the defendants.The deponent stated further that there was no letter or application demanding for the demolition of the property in dispute, but leaders of the agencies want to use their offices to take usurp and seize their ownership of the land to take it over and erect a new building.The family had earlier taken steps to address the situation by sending petitions to the governor and other state government officials, including the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 Command, in the hope that the situation will be addressed.According to the spokespersons of the family, Mrs. Modinat Onimole and Mrs. Mutiat Hassan, Governor Babatunde Fashola promised to set up a committee to investigate the case. She said up till now, nothing had been heard about the committee and its report.The post Court stops demolition of five-storey building appeared first on The Nation.]]>
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