• Group condemns exercise, accuses state of targeting poor

The Lagos State Government has denied allegations that it willfully disobeyed a subsisting court order by continuing the demolition of houses in Oworonshoki.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), described the claims as “false and unfair,” insisting that no court order was served on any state agency prior to the latest phase of the demolition.

Speaking with reporters in Lagos yesterday, Pedro said: “As of today, I am aware of the court order they are referring to. However, before the demolition exercise they are complaining about, that order was not served on any government agency. I believe it was endorsed on Friday, October 24, the same day the demolition took place. Even if the order was obtained that day, could it have been served on a Saturday? As at that time, no government office was aware of any such order.”

He stressed that government agencies cannot act on “verbal notice” of a court decision, adding that until a formal service of process is made, no allegation of contempt can stand.

Pedro criticised what he called the misuse of court processes to obstruct public interest, alleging that some litigants were using the judiciary “as an instrument of oppression” even when the government had shown restraint.

He explained that the demolition in Oworonshoki began almost a month earlier but was temporarily suspended on the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to allow residents time to relocate.

According to him, affected persons were compensated despite questions surrounding the legality of their property ownership. “The demolition started almost a month ago and was stopped on the Governor’s directive. The people were thereafter compensated to enable them to relocate. The case they now refer to was not even filed until recently, despite their prior knowledge of the government’s plan to clear the area. They only went to court belatedly, possibly using the same compensation funds to engage lawyers and sue the government,” he alleged.

The Attorney General confirmed that he had seen a copy of the interim injunction, describing it as a pre-emptive ex parte order obtained without the government being heard. “The order itself only stopped further demolition, which means demolition had already started. It was obtained ex parte; the government was not in court, and we were not part of the proceedings before the order was made, in breach of the principle of fair hearing,” he said.

Pedro added that, as of the time of the interview, his office, listed as the first defendant in the suit, had not been formally served. “I was away in Akure for an official assignment over the weekend, but I called my office to confirm. As I speak, no order has been served. If indeed there is an order, it should be served on the Attorney General first. That has not been done,” he stated.

He further argued that residents alleging illegal demolition must prove ownership and compliance with building regulations before claiming damages. “None of the people condemning the government has asked whether any of the demolished properties had valid building approvals. If you build without approval, the law is clear: such structures are illegal and subject to demolition. We must stop using public sentiment and the media to justify illegality,” he said.

Citing recent building collapse incidents, Pedro said the government must act decisively against illegal developments to prevent future tragedies. He explained that while part of Oworonshoki land falls under a government scheme, another portion had been excised to the Oba’s family.

“If the structures are within the excised land given to the Oba’s family, it would be wrong for the government to enter. But if they are within government-acquired land, then the government has every right to act. Anyone claiming ownership must present title documents and approved building plans,” he stressed.

Meanwhile, the Movement for the Transformation of Nigeria has condemned what it described as “state-sponsored brutality and unlawful demolition of homes” in Oworonshoki.

In a statement signed by its Convener, Hauwa Mustapha, and Co-Convener, Chris Isiguzo, the group described the exercise as “a brazen contempt for the rule of law and disregard for human life and dignity,” accusing the state of waging “a deliberate war against the poor.”

They expressed concern that, despite a World Bank report indicating that 139 million Nigerians live in extreme poverty, “the Lagos State Government has allowed private interests to override public welfare in complete defiance of an existing court order.”

According to the group, the demolition of over 7,000 housing units, mostly belonging to middle-class and low-income residents, has rendered several families, including pregnant women, children and the elderly, homeless overnight.

“The demolition of these homes is the height of abuse of human rights, cruel treatment of the poor and brazen disregard for the rule of law,” the group said. “It is irresponsible for the Lagos State Government to discard these structures as ‘illegal structures.’ These are people’s lives, built over decades of labour, community and love. To tear them down without dialogue, compensation or relocation is not urban development. The Lagos State Government is carrying out a social cleansing and a genocide against poor people.”