Family seeks enforcement of court ruling in property dispute
The family of E.J. Alex Kehinde Taylor has implored the Lagos State government to comply with the Consent Judgment of December 2019, which remains binding and subsisting on a parcel of land situated at Plots 412-420, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Abule Egba area of the state.
Counsel to the Taylor Family, Olalekan Ojo, who is the Managing Partner, Platinum and Taylor Hill LP, who appealed, yesterday, during a press conference, also demanded the payment of adequate compensation mandated by law or returning of the property to its rightful owners.
Ojo, who noted that the said land is a legacy of stewardship and dedication but forcefully and illegally occupied by the Lagos State government without the payment of the adequate compensation mandated by law, warned the state government to desist from any further acts of encroachment, harassment, or delay tactics that undermine the credibility of governance and the judiciary. He stressed that the Taylor Family has held legal and undisputed ownership of this property for over a century.
According to him, since its initial acquisition in 1912 by Rt. Rev. Bishop James Johnson and subsequent conveyances to E.J. Alex Taylor, the property has been carefully managed, preserved, and utilised, being a site of significant economic and community value, hosting industries and facilitating development.
“Throughout this time, the family has diligently met all obligations, including payment of tenement rates, insurance, and property maintenance. In an affront to justice and equity, the Lagos State government has taken steps to dispossess the family of their lawful property.
“Despite a binding Consent Judgment by the Honorable Justice O.A. Ogala in December 2019—which recognised the Taylor Family as the rightful owners—the Lagos State Government has chosen to ignore its legal and moral obligations.
“Instead, it has resorted to arbitrary revocation, prolonged court battles, and bureaucratic manoeuvres to delay justice. This behaviour is not just a breach of the law but a direct attack on the principle of justice and the sanctity of private property rights, which are foundational to any lawful society. The rule of law must not be optional, even for the government,” he said.
Ojo regretted that the property had been subjected to vandalism and neglect, with armed thugs and factions destroying valuable infrastructure and disrupting the family’s peaceful enjoyment of their land. He added that once a thriving industrial complex, the property now stands in ruins—a stark testament to the disregard for lawful ownership and accountability.
Related
Get the latest news delivered straight to your inbox every day of the week. Stay informed with the Guardian’s leading coverage of Nigerian and world news, business, technology and sports.
0 Comments
We will review and take appropriate action.