Following a recent ruling by the Lagos High Court in Ikorodu that 53 buildings occupying the Nigeria Telecommunication (NITEL) land, popularly called Radio, located along Grammar School/Eruwen road, Ikorodu, should be demolished and which was published in August, 2019 edition, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development on Monday, September 30, 2019, stormed the area to effect the court judgement.
When Oriwu Sun visited the scene, structures, fences and gates of some of the affected buildings were partly demolished while some others were completely demolished to their foundations.
Meanwhile, some Omoniles (landowners) from the Regun family who were on ground at the scene peacefully confronted against our reporters and prevented them from taking pictures of the demolished buildings, stating that they don’t want the incident to be reported because the demolition exercise was carried out through the back door.
While they confirmed that the affected buildings had truly been ordered for demolition by the court, they alleged that those that carried out the exercise did not go through due process in effecting the court order.
However, despite the resistance from the Omoniles, our cameral man was able to take the pictures of some of the demolished buildings.
Oriwu Sun had earlier reported that the controversial parcel of land was acquired by Federal Government for the Nigerian Telecommunications Limited in the Ikorodu area of Lagos for usage of the agency years past.
This land and the outlaying premises was allotted to the NITEL (Nigeria Telecommunications) for their use and it was subsequently allocated to Nigerian Mobile Telecommunications MTELL, and other beneficiaries through the government after. But recent move by an unidentified family threatened the occupation of the land.
The disgruntled family members went against court rulings to sell off a considerable chunk of the government land. A move which has forced the legal occupants to form an alliance and sue the family to court over case of trespass.
The compliant under the aegis of NITEL/MTEL Landlords Association instituted a legal action against the family who has encroached on the land for a while now. The family members was said to have sold some parts of the land to unsuspecting buyers who have built structures around it.
Though story has it that most of the buyers built their structures on the land against court injunction last year, when Justice I. B. Lawal-Akapo instructed them to put a hold to their building activities till the status of the land is fully ascertained. The Justice’s order was ignored by the hasty buyers to their own detriment.
During that time, the Judge commissioned an investigative committee, comprising of the Assistant Court Registrar, officials of the State Ministries of Environment and Physical Planning and Urban Development who worked closely with the defendant’s and claimant’s attorneys.
In a recent review of the case, Justice I. B. Lawal-Akapo, sent a contingent to assess the situation in protection of armed policemen, a total number of 53 houses were reported having contravened the court order of 2018. By the end of the visiting, the inspection team marked the 53 houses for demolition.
As recorded by the court registrar, the judge found it necessary to order the demolition of the illegal structures on the disputed land. Justice Lawal-Akapo made this known early this year, February 27, 2019 and directed that the operation be carried out under tight security in conjunction with state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The judge who involved the police commissioner, ruled that every detail of the demolition process be documented, he wants every marked building photographed and lodge in files for the records. He also warned that both claimants and defendants exercise caution in their moves.
Some paragraphs from the court ruling shown to pressmen reads: “That the houses, foundations, shed, fences or structures in whatever form, numbering about 53 and situated on the plots of land, subject matter of this suit earmarked in the report of Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development dated October 13, 2018, and highlight in the attachment of the ACR and shown in the pictorial evidence attached to this application in exhibits ‘D1’ and ‘D4’, all marked in red oxide, shall be demolished by the enforcement unit of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, shall provide foolproof security arrangement through the operation unit, area commands and divisions of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development from the beginning of the demolition till its completion.”
“That photographs of the demolished structures shall be taken and filed in court. That all parties shall maintain that state of affairs pending the final determination of the suit.”