The Lagos State High Court has granted an injunction to prevent further demolitions of the Coker community in Oworonshoki area of the state.
This comes in the wake of recent concerns over the threat to demolish homes and structures of the residents of the community by the Lagos State government.
In the interim injunction, dated September 14, 2023, which KOKO TV NG obtained on Wednesday, Justice O.J. Awope specifically restrained the traditional ruler, Oba Babatunde Saliu Oloworo and anyone acting on his behalf, including agents and servants, from engaging in any further demolition activities within the community.
The order of injunction also prohibits the monarch from selling or developing the land located around Ifako, which is bounded by the Odo-Iyalaro River and the Lagos Lagoon.
KOKO TV NG gathered that last week, residents of Oworonshoki had expressed their distress when agents and servants of the state government and Oba marked their buildings for demolition.
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The community had been living in fear of a rumored government plan to continue demolitions in November next month.
However, the community through HRM Oba Bashir Abisoye Odesanya-Oloto (Oloto of otto of Mainland), Chief Mohammed Bashir Ayinla Akinola (Odofin Oba), Chief Shamusideen Pedro (ELETU OBA), Chief Lamina Kareem Akinola (Ojamu Oba), Chief Jubril Oloto (ARO OBA), for themselves and on behalf of the entire members of Oloto Royal Family sued HRM Oba Babatunde Saliu in Suit No. ID/7355GCM/2023 sought the order of injunction banning the defendant from carrying demolition in their community through whosoever.
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In a motion ex-parte filed through their lawyer, M. A Bashua (SAN), the Applicants sought for an order of interim injunction restraining HRM OBA BABATUNDE SALIU (Oba of Oworo), the proposed Defendant in the Applicants’ Memorandum of Claim and Option for Settlement dated the 7 day of August 2023, his assigns: servants, privies and/or agents of whatever description from further demolition of Applicants homes, buildings, structures, shrine and community and from selling and/or developing or building on the land situate, lying and being at Ifako, which area of land is bounded by Iya Alaro River Oworonshold village, the Lagos Lagoon, Gbagada village, Anthony village and Mende village in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, pending the compliance and/or full compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol and/ or pending the filing of a suit against the proposed Defendant.
In granting the order as sought, Justice OJ. Awope held that “…Upon reading the 48 paragraphed Affidavit dated the 28th day of August 2023 deposed to be Chief Shamusideen Pedro, the 3rd Claimant/Applicant in this matter, in support of the Motion, the Court hereby Rules as follows:
“An Order of Interim injunction is hereby made restraining HRM OBA BABATUNDE SALIU (Oba of Oworo) the proposed Defendant in the Applicants’ Memorandum of claim and Option for settlement dated the 7 day of August 2023, restraining him and his assigns demolition of the Applicants’ homes, buildings, structures, shrine and community hall and from selling and/or developing or building on the land situate, lying and being at Ifako, which area of land is bounded by Iya Alaro River, Oworonshoki village, the Lagos Lagoon Gbagada village, Anthony village and Mende village in the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, pending full compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol of this Honourable Court.”
