The Lagos State government has said that although the group who attempted to demolish buildings in Magodo Phase 2 on Tuesday are entitled to land from the government, the judgement that granted them the entitlement does not ask them to demolish buildings.
It also said that the Supreme Court judgement only granted them allocation and not possession.
The Sanwo-Olu government said the state had attempted to fulfill the judgement but the leadership of the group – Shangisha Landlords Association, had rejected the offers.
The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) who spoke on the incident, noted that the case dated back to the demolition of properties at Shangisha village between 1984 and 1985, after which a supreme court verdict ordered the state to give Shangisha landlords 549 plots of land as a “matter of first priority”.
Onigbanjo noted that the verdict of the supreme court only relates to “allocation” and not “possession” of any land.
The Lagos commissioner said between 2012 and 2015, the state government engaged the judgment creditors, and made a proposal to re-allocate land to them at Magotho Residential Scheme within Badagry area, but Adebayo Adeyiga, chairman of the Shangisha Landlords Association, rejected the state’s offer, while “majority of the judgement creditors accepted it”.
He noted in a statement:
“Subsequent to the rejection, the state government has been in dialogue with the majority of the judgment creditors from 2019 with a view to reach a concession towards implementing the judgment.
“Noteworthy also is the pending application for interlocutory injunction dated 1st December 2020 before the court of appeal in appeal no. CA/L/1005A/2018 seeking an order restraining Chief Adebayo Adeyiga and others (including their agents, servants, privies or howsoever called, particularly the police) from entering into, giving direction, taking possession or in any manner disturbing the quiet enjoyment of property owners in Magodo Residential Area Scheme.
“The Lagos State Government has equally observed that the execution was carried out by unknown bailiffs as the sheriffs of the High Court of Lagos, where the judgment emanated, were not responsible for the purported execution carried out on the 21st December 2021 at Magodo.
“The purported execution is therefore contrary to Order 8 Rule 17 of the Supreme Court Rules 2014 and Section 37 of the Enforcement of Judgment and Orders Part iii of the Sherriff and Civil Process Act, LFN, 2004.
“The Judgment before the Supreme Court was not in respect of declaration of title and the supreme court did not in any way grant title to land to the judgment creditors.
“The judgment creditors had no claim for possession and none was granted as no survey plan was tendered before the Court. The judgment is not affixed to any land anywhere and only declared that the judgment creditors are entitled to allocation of land from the state government.
Alleging that Adeyiga misled the police in an attempt to execute the judgment notwithstanding the pending appeal against the issuance of warrant of possession by the then Chief Judge of Lagos State on March 16, 2017, Onigbanjo stated that “investigation into the unwarranted incident is being carried out with a view to prosecuting any person found culpable
“The state government is therefore dismayed by the action of Chief Adebayo Adeyiga (one of the Judgment Creditors) who misled the Nigeria Police in attempting execution of the Judgment, notwithstanding the pending appeal against the issuance of warrant of possession by the then Chief Judge of Lagos State on 16th March 2017.
“The state government enjoins the general public to remain calm, especially residents of Magodo Residential Area, while investigation into the unwarranted incident is being carried out with a view to prosecuting any person found culpable.
“The Lagos state government has high regard for the rule of law and will protect the interests of all parties.”
