Court orders Lagos, police to return acquired land to rightful owners

A Lagos State High Court, Badagry, has ordered the Lagos State government and the Police to return the land wrongfully acquired at Atiporome and Araromi Ale to the displaced residents, who were the rightful owners.

Justice Sherifat Shoanike odered the state government and the police to return the 12.13 hectares to the displaced residents of Atiporome and Araromi Ale communities who were the owners of the demolished houses situated along Badagry road of the state.

The communities had 10 year ago filed the suit against the defendants following the demolition of their properties.

The judge, while delivering judgment held that the demolition of the houses in the Araromi Ale and Atiporome community by the Police and the Lagos State Government was unlawful and against the constitution of Nigeria.

The claimants had challenged the state government for demolition through the state Task Force and members of the Police who laid siege over the community and pulled down all their buildings.

In her judgment, Justice Sonaike held that the evidences available proved that the Lagos state government had wrongfully acquired the land initially occupied by the claimants and also sold it to the police.

She described the act as wrong to all intent and purposes and amounts to a situation of robbing Peter to pay Paul, held that the demolition was illegal.

She therefore ordered the Lagos State government and Police to return the 12.13 hectares of land to the displaced residents.