For allegedly demolishing her property illegally, an 80-year-old retiree, Mrs. Vivian G. Osemwegie has sued the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), and others at the Federal High Court, Lagos.
Also listed as respondents in the suit are the Governing Council, the Rector, Dr. Olubunmi Owoso, Engineer O. A. Olabode and Mrs. Agbaje Williams.The claimant, who retired as the institution’s Chief Lecturer in the Department of Graphic Design, School of Art and Printing, filed the motion through her counsel, E. O. Etomi of FRA Williams Chambers.
She is seeking an order extending the time to apply to set aside the orders of the Federal High Court dated August 30, 2024, delivered by Justice Dipeolu in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/753/2003, which granted the defendants leave to enforce the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on February 2, 2007.
She is, therefore, praying for an order setting aside the court’s order made on August 30, 2024, as well as an order to the police to protect Quarters 39, Aggrey Road, GRA, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
The claimant also prayed for “an order for a stay of execution of the judgment delivered on February 2, 2007, in light of the August 30, 2024, orders” among other reliefs. She argued that the defendants misled the court into granting the August 30, 2024, order.
“The court was also misled into enforcing the February 2, 2007, judgment. The 2007 judgment contains no enforceable orders or directives. The Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to grant the defendants/respondents’ application to enforce the 2007 judgment,” she stated, adding that the applicant was not given notice of the application to enforce the judgment.
Meanwhile, Mrs Osemwegie has petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID), Alagbon, Ikoyi-Lagos, requesting an investigation into the alleged illegal demolition of her property within the Yaba College of Technology premises.
In her petition, she alleged that on October 2, 2024, unknown gunmen and thugs invaded her property at 39 Aggrey Road, Yabatech Staff Quarters, Yaba, forcibly removed her from the property, and threw out her belongings without offering any explanation.
