…Dismisses claims of willful demolition of homes
By Olasunkanmi Akoni
The Lagos State Lawyer Basic and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, has denied claims that the state authorities willfully disobeyed a subsisting courtroom order by persevering with demolition of homes in Oworonshoki, describing such stories as “false and unfair.”
Pedro, whereas briefing journalists on Tuesday at Alausa, Ikeja, mentioned no order of courtroom had been served on any company of the Lagos State Authorities earlier than the most recent part of demolition passed off — opposite to stories that the train violated a restraining order allegedly obtained by residents.
In accordance with stories, the Lagos State Authorities, via related authorities, had final Saturday demolished a number of buildings mentioned to have been constructed with out authorised plans.
Reacting earlier, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, had alleged that the federal government violated a courtroom injunction restraining the demolition of buildings in elements of Oworonshoki.
He mentioned the Excessive Courtroom of Lagos State in Ikeja had, on October 23, issued an interim order stopping additional demolition on Ajileru Road, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Extension, pending compliance with pre-action protocols.
Falana said that the defendants — together with the Commissioner for Bodily Planning and City Growth and the Lagos State Constructing Management Company — had been served the order on Friday.
Nonetheless, Pedro insisted that no authorities company had been formally served with any order previous to the demolition.
“As of at present, I’m not conscious of the courtroom order being referred to. Earlier than the demolition train, no such order was served on any authorities company. Even when the order was obtained on Friday, October 24 — the identical day the demolition passed off — a authorities workplace can’t be served on a Saturday,” he mentioned.
The Lawyer Basic maintained that authorities companies can’t act on verbal or casual discover of a courtroom determination, stressing that till formal service of course of is made, the federal government can’t be accused of contempt.
Pedro additionally criticized what he described because the misuse of courtroom processes towards public curiosity, noting that some litigants resort to last-minute authorized actions to frustrate enforcement of planning legal guidelines.
He defined that demolition in Oworonshoki started nearly a month earlier however was briefly suspended on the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to permit residents extra time to relocate.
“The Governor directed that compensation be paid to affected individuals to assist them resettle. The present case was filed afterward,” Pedro mentioned.
He confirmed that he had since seen a duplicate of the interim injunction, which he mentioned merely restrained additional demolition and was obtained ex parte — with out the federal government being heard.
Pedro emphasised that as of the time of the interview, his workplace — listed as the primary defendant within the go well with — had not been formally served with the order.
“If certainly there may be an order, it needs to be served first on the Lawyer Basic. That has not been executed,” he said.
He additional famous that residents alleging unlawful demolition should set up possession and show compliance with constructing laws earlier than making claims.
“Should you construct with out approval, the legislation is evident — such buildings are unlawful and topic to demolition. The federal government can’t be blamed for implementing planning legal guidelines,” he mentioned.
Pedro added that the federal government’s motion was a part of ongoing efforts to forestall constructing collapse and lack of life, stressing that due course of was adopted all through the train.
He defined that a part of the Oworonshoki land falls inside a government-acquired space, whereas one other portion had been excised to the standard landowners.
“If the buildings are inside the excised land, authorities gained’t enter. However the place buildings are inside government-acquired areas with out allocation or approval, they’re unlawful,” he mentioned.
Pedro described as unfair the suggestion that the state authorities intentionally violated any courtroom order, insisting that the train focused solely buildings constructed with out approval on authorities land.
“The federal government has not flouted any legitimate order. The narrative that we disobeyed the courtroom is fake. What we’re witnessing is an try and politicize and misrepresent lawful enforcement actions,” he mentioned.
The demolition of homes in Oworonshoki has generated widespread concern amongst residents. Nonetheless, the Lagos State Authorities maintains that it adopted due course of and that the operation was aimed toward restoring order and guaranteeing security inside the neighborhood.
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