Falana SAN Condemns Lagos State Government Over Alleged Contempt of Court in Oworonsoki Demolitions
Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, SAN, has accused the Lagos State Government of acting in flagrant contempt of court by demolishing over 100 properties in Oworonsoki despite the existence of a subsisting restraining order.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Falana noted that the demolition exercise, carried out under the cover of night, displaced numerous families and was executed with the support of armed policemen and hired thugs who allegedly used teargas to disperse protesting residents.
According to him, the action was not only unlawful but also reminiscent of the infamous case of Military Governor of Lagos State & Ors. v. Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu & Anor. (1986) 2 NWLR (Pt. 18) 621, where the Supreme Court condemned the Lagos State Government for defying a court order and resorting to self-help, even under military rule.
Quoting the late Obaseki JSC, Falana reminded the government that: “In the area where the rule of law operates, the rule of self-help by force is abandoned. Once a dispute has been brought before the court, it is the duty of the government to allow the judicial process to run its full course.”
Meanwhile, the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Division, presided over by Justice A.G. Balogun, has issued an interim injunction restraining further demolition of properties located on Ojileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Street within the Itesiwaju Ajumoni CDA, Oworonsoki.
The order directed the respondents, their agents, contractors, or representatives to desist from demolishing, interfering with, or creating third-party interests over the disputed land pending compliance with the pre-action protocol under the High Court of Lagos State (Expeditious Disposal of Civil Cases) Practice Direction No. 2 of 1999.
Court records indicate that the dispute covers approximately 30 hectares of land. The matter has been adjourned to December 9, 2025, for a report of compliance. The court further ordered the applicants to serve their memorandum of claim and accompanying documents on the respondents within 72 hours.
