Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal - Politics - Nairaland
Nairaland Forum › Nairaland General › Politics › Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal (2444 Views)
| Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by shortgun(op): 11:06am On Oct 07, 2025*. Modified: 12:24pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
Demolishing people’s houses and grabbing land by the Lagos State Government is nothing new. It’s an old pattern of theft and abuse that goes back to the 1980s. Successive Lagos governments have shamelessly taken over people’s lawful properties, acting above the laws of Nigeria. These are not isolated cases, they’re part of a long, dirty tradition of government-backed robbery. Lagos State government ends up losing the cases that are taken to court, because the evidence of illegality and impunity are undeniable. Many Judges in the past have declared many of these demolitions and seizures as illegal and have ordered compensation for the victims. Below are some of the well-documented cases where the courts declared Lagos State’s governments demolitions illegal. It’s a disgrace that a state government constantly finds itself on the wrong side of the law it is meant to uphold. 1.Makoko / Oko-Agbon / Sogunro / Iwaya waterfront communities case (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/70/2025) Presided by Justice F. N. Ogazi. Respondents:Lagos State Government, its relevant agencies and the Nigeria Police Force. Also implicated is FBT Coral Limited (private developer) for being allocated parts of the land Background: Lagos State government and its agents used brute force and threats to demolish houses and business premises without compensation or resettlement. Re-alocated the land to a private developer, FBT Coral, for luxury development. Residents claim loss of livelihoods, businesses, homes, Police harassment and the killing of a community leader. Judgment and Court Ruling The court restrained Lagos State Government & the authorities including the Police command from any further unlawful evictions or demolitions in the Makoko / Oko-Agbon / Sogunro / Iwaya waterfront communities. Also, from continuing threats of such actions. ₦3.5 billion was awarded as damages to the residents. These damages cover past demolitions, past threats of demolition and the unlawful killing of a community leader. 2.Shangisha / Magodo Scheme II case. Supreme court SC/112/2002 Background: Between June 1984 and May 1985, Lagos State Government moved into Shangisha Village now known as Magodo Scheme II demolishing homes and seizing land from citizens who had done nothing wrong. Many of them who had legally bought their plots and built houses long before the state’s invasion. Judgment and Court Ruling In 1993, the Lagos State High Court declared the Lagos state government’s actions illegal, ordering Lagos to allocate 549 plots to the landlords as restitution. The lagos state government refused and appealed — but the Court of Appeal in 2001 upheld the decision of the high court. Yet, again the state dragged the matter to the Supreme Court, the apex court. Led by Justice Adekeye, The Supreme court delivered a final judgment on 10 February 2012, unanimously ordering Lagos to comply and give the landlords first choice of 549 plots in Shangisha or equivalent plots elsewhere. Lagos lost again After nearly three decades, In 2024, Lagos State government filed an application again at the Supreme Court seeking a review of its 2012 decision in SC/1/2/2002. The Supreme Court rejected that application. It held that the 2012 judgment was unambiguous, that the Court lacks the power to review its own judgment and that what Lagos was asking was essentially a re-opening of final judgment which is not permissible under the law! 3.Lagos State goverment vs Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu (1986) – Supreme Court (SC.241/1985) Background: Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu had secured an ex parte interim injunction restraining the Lagos State Government from ejecting him from his legal residence. Despite this clear court order, the Lagos State Government defied the order and sent about 150 armed men to forcibly eject Chief Ojukwu, his family and other occupants while the suit was still pending in court. The Court of Appeal condemned the government’s actions as illegal, ordering that Ojukwu be reinstated into possession and describing Lagos State’s conduct as an act of rascality and self-help — a violation of due process and the rule of law. The Lagos State Government not satisfied appealed to the Supreme Court, which unanimously dismissed the appeal. The apex court ruled that the forced eviction of Ojukwu while litigation was ongoing was unlawful, amounted to executive lawlessness and was rascality and self-help, acts forbidden under the law. The case remains a landmark precedent in Nigerian jurisprudence affirming that no individual or authority not even the government, may use force to evict or reclaim property when a case is pending before the court. National Inland Waterways Authority (NIWA) vs Lagos Lagos State Government....( this case is similar to trade fair demolitions) Court: Supreme Court of Nigeria Case No./Appeal No.: SC/CV/17/2018 Background: Lagos State government with it's LASWA (2008 law) state law, had been regulating, licensing, levying boat operators, dredgers, tour‐boats etc illegally on inland waterways..lagoons, rivers, etc) within Lagos State. NIWA (a Federal agency) challenged that Lagos State’s regulation / levy imposition was illegal and unconstitutional; claiming that all inland waterways fall under the Exclusive Legislative List in the Constitution, which is a federal jurisdiction,so states cannot usurp that authority. There was some back-and-forth. The Federal High Court then ruled in favor of NIWA. Not satisfied, Lagos state government appealed the judgement and the Court of Appeal later reversed the ruling of the high court, giving Lagos some regulatory space over waterways within the state. The case then went to the Supreme Court. Judgment and Court Ruling The Supreme Court reversed the Court of Appeal’s judgment. It affirmed the earlier Federal High Court decision of March 28, 2014, by Justice Tsoho that NIWA/NMSSA / that the Federal Government have exclusive authority over the inland waterways in Nigeria—this includes licensing, levies, regulation and all related commercial activity. Held that Lagos State’s legislation (LASWA Law 2008) is illegal and unconstitutional, to the extent it attempts to regulate, charge, license or control inland waterways, in conflict with the NIWA Act and the Constitution’s Exclusive Legislative List. The Supreme Court declared the actions of lagos state illegal. Lagos State lost the legal authority to impose levies, licenses or regulatory fees on inland waterways operators boats, tours, dredgers etc. under the LASWA law or similar state laws. Such regulatory power rests solely with federal agencies NIWA / NMSSA. Conclusion: A clear pattern runs through all these cases: the Lagos State Government has repeatedly shown utter disregard for the laws of Nigeria. It has made illegality a habit, operating above the law and using state power to dispossess citizens of their properties. No other state in Nigeria or anywhere else in the world has this long and shameful record of being legally proven wrong so many times in courts So, before you assume that Lagos State’s demolitions are justified, remember its history of lawlessness, a government that has been found guilty over and over again of illegally seizing people’s land. The real tragedy in all this is that many victims will never get justice simply because they cannot afford the long legal battle with a state government,while the Lagos government bloated with public funds has demonstrated that it will chase people’s private legal properties all the way to the Supreme Court — just to keep what it stole. 1 Like
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| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by FreeStuffsNG: 11:08am On Oct 07, 2025*. Modified: 12:35pm On Oct 08, 2025 |
You're being clever by half. SC has ruled on this matter and pronounced judgment in 2003 in favor of Lagos State Government. If you're a lawyer and so sure of all the incoherent turenchi you just posted above, please go to court and see if you don’t lose and end up getting derobbed. shortgun:You are ignorant about this matter and I am not surprised. It's waste of time to educate you that in 2003, PDP was the party ruling Nigeria and Lagos State Government was in opposition, led by AD. Yet LASG won the case at the SC. There's no point to engage you on this matter anymore. You make noise too much yet the people you want to disturb with your noise are just watching you and silent. Yet you don’t gerrit. Smh 12 Likes 3 Shares
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| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by lionshare: 11:13am On Oct 07, 2025 |
You’re only able to cite these instances because the owners went to court kindly advise the current victims to do same. 6 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by shortgun(op): 11:17am On Oct 07, 2025 |
FreeStuffsNG:lets not pretend like we don't know what "go to court " means since APC happened to this country 1 Like |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by federal9: 11:36am On Oct 07, 2025 |
Na only Obi Dem sabi attack It's good the Court has spoken Let's not always allow tribalism blind our eyes when it comes to justice. It destroys things quickly and makes one evil. Tribalism is evil Tribalism is the quickest way to failure. 2 Likes |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by shortgun(op): 11:42am On Oct 07, 2025 |
FreeStuffsNG:Lagos state government lost all the cases listed in my post, so which one are you referring to? |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by slivertongue: 11:45am On Oct 07, 2025 |
before you assume that Lagos State’s demolitions are justified, remember its history of lawlessness, a government that has been found guilty over and over again of illegally seizing people’s land. 2 Likes |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by WesleyPepper: 12:03pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
Funny people The legitimate Lagos government has every right to do everything within its powers to ensure law and order . No amount of tears from hypocrites would change that . The noise only ends here . I only see the tears online tho 5 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by SeeWahala: 12:18pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
I'm just happy that the entire country as well as International bodies and business partners are seriously taking notes of the hypocrisy and tribalism of the average Yoruba man in Nigeria today 🤗 2027 no far, we go rendezvous and compare notes by then  2 Likes |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Christistruth03: 12:19pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
FreeStuffsNG: 1 Like 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by shortgun(op): 12:23pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
WesleyPepper:Law and order you say? Lagos State has lost more court cases for illegal demolitions and land grabbing than any other state government in Nigeria. If disobeying court judgments and stealing people’s land is your idea of law and order, then congratulations you just redefined hypocrisy. Abeg shift, You’re defending a state government that the Supreme Court itself called lawless in many cases 1 Like |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Lanretoye(m): 12:37pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
shortgun:court has ruled that it is illegal,oya go and build another one...person wey never buy block before carry judgment of who them demolish him house for head. 5 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by shortgun(op): 12:52pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
Lanretoye:When truth choke, una go leave the message attack the messenger. 😂 I no need to own a block before I know Lagos state government dey do illegal demolition. No be me talk am. Oya cry to Supreme Court if e pain you. Una dey happy say state government dey behave like agbero. 1 Like |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Lanretoye(m): 5:55pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
shortgun:na your brothers Dey legal that is why none of them have been able to come out with approved building plan of the demolished building,not a single one of them. 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by aswani(m): 7:23pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
I am beginning to wonder if Ndi Yoruba shouldn't have a meeting to just hand over Lagos state to Obidients. Me I am not sure how Obidients will cope if or when Biafra eventually manifests sha. Hmm, this Obidients self flagellation over anything Lagos is now like a handshake that has passed the elbow to paraphrase the great Chinua Achebe. And yes I mentioned Obidients not Ndigbo. 4 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by shortgun(op): 7:42pm On Oct 07, 2025*. Modified: 8:20pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
Lanretoye:The issue isn’t whether the traders had approvals, they did. The Trade Fair Complex is a federal property, managed by a federal government board and every trader there holds federal leases and approvals. Yet Lagos State claims that even on federal land, people must still obtain state physical planning permits before building. So basically, Lagos is saying federal approval means nothing unless they also stamp it. How does that make any sense? 1 Like |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by StaffofOrayan(m): 8:36pm On Oct 07, 2025 |
This is what I can't stand about people from a part of Nigeria! Politicians demolishing properties happens in all 36 states in Nigeria, but these guys always pretend like it doesn't happen where they come from! If we want to tackle political impunity, why pretend like it's happening in Lagos alone! Why not make a compilation of all demolitions nationwide that has affected the common man! The writer can't tell me there are no commoners where he/she comes from that needs help from their state/local government overreach! 4 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Coldspice: 2:23am On Oct 08, 2025 |
shortgun:Go and ask those more knowledgeable than you about the matter involving landed properties in Lagos that the FG lost. It was when Ambode was Governor. https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/land-control-lagos-defeats-fg-supreme-court/%3famp It's from that case that all owners of FG properties in Lagos needed to go back to Alausa to ratify their titles and get Lagos state C of Os. 2 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Coldspice: 2:27am On Oct 08, 2025 |
shortgun:You are ignorant Igbos don't understand the law and that's one of the reasons Kanu will kpai in jail if you don't get a lawyer outside Igboland to defend him. Go and read this judgment here. https://legalpediaonline.com/a-g-lagos-state-v-a-g-federation-ors/ After that, read this one here https://www.google.com/amp/s/punchng.com/land-control-lagos-defeats-fg-supreme-court/%3famp 4 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Coldspice: 2:29am On Oct 08, 2025 |
SeeWahala:Shebi na Igbos develop Lagos Shebi Lagos is no man's land Nwosu, come and build in Lagos. I dare you. 3 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Eboofa: 2:51am On Oct 08, 2025 |
shortgun:APC has poisoned the very waters that will quench its thirst! its a matter of time thirst must come! yoruba hegemony is a fantasy! it will not last beyond 2027! 1 Like |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Lanretoye(m): 3:46am On Oct 08, 2025 |
shortgun:they have reiterated this times without numbers or you people just decided to be so incorrigible and disgusting?…okay let me say at this point you are still either you are still ignorant or chose to be making a mockery of your self,federal government can sell land for you but what you want to build on it must be approved by the state.the federal government can’t give you building approval in Lagos or any other state.it is as simple as that,don’t let chestbeating or unruly stubborn head make you lose 3 Likes 1 Share |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by ExudeLoveToAll: 4:43am On Oct 08, 2025 |
WesleyPepper:U are wrong, all aces cited herein negates your position. A government only does things that are in tandem to the laws of the land not things that are against it. You just talked like a layman 1 Like |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Father4all: 5:01am On Oct 08, 2025 |
Even renaming some part of Federal road is illegal like Kiri Kiri road Olodi Apapa 1 Like |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by shortgun(op): 7:41am On Oct 08, 2025 |
Coldspice:Ignoramus calling someone else ignorant. The judgment of the Supreme Court which you people are citing to justify your illegality is very clear and unambiguous. It did not give states any power to regulate or oversee the federal government or its activities. The judgment clearly stated that the federal government cannot determine state planning laws for the states but has full authority over federal government lands within those states. Here is an excerpt from the judgment: “It must be recognized that the power to plan and control development of land within a State belongs to that State. The Federal Government has no power to regulate town and country planning in a State except in relation to land vested in the Federal Government or any of its agencies for Federal purposes. Where the Federal Government acquires land in a State for the purpose of a Federal project, the Federal authority may make regulations to govern the development on that land.” So where exactly did the judgment imply that the Lagos State Government should regulate the activities of the federal government on federal government land? |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by shortgun(op): 8:03am On Oct 08, 2025 |
Coldspice:Is it that you guys are ignorant or like to be mischievous all the time? How does the case you shared related in anyway? |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Coldspice: 8:11am On Oct 08, 2025 |
shortgun:Go and get someone to interpret it in your native language. 1 Like |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by WesleyPepper: 8:53am On Oct 08, 2025 |
ExudeLoveToAll:Everything has been in tandem with the local Lagos laws and the constitution of the FRN. The thing is people like you want folks from your ethnic stock to be treated as sacred cows but unfortunately ‘Eko ni won n pe ibi ‘ |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by shortgun(op): 9:25am On Oct 08, 2025 |
Coldspice:Oga there’s no need to act like you are smart... Show me where any court ruled that Lagos State government has authority to oversee activities in federal government owned lands within Lagos state. |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Lanretoye(m): 10:09am On Oct 08, 2025 |
shortgun:learn now before you go and make the same grave mistake in future or you continue to argue baselessly like the owners of the building did…federal government can sell land you in Lagos but before you errect any building,Lagos state government must approve it.it is like buying a phone does not automatically own you a SIM card. |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by shortgun(op): 10:34am On Oct 08, 2025 |
Lanretoye:  Clearly you’re the one who needs to learn here. This is precisely why the Lagos State Government should bury its head in shame. The land at the Trade Fair Complex was never outrightly sold to any individual, trader or association. Federal government does not sell trade fair complexes! All occupants and businesses there operate under federal leases or allocations issued by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment through the Trade Fair Management Board (TFMB). All the land there still belong to the Federal government! Do you now understand or you need an interpreter? |
| Re: Court Declare Lagos State Demolitions Illegal by Putinofrussia: 10:48am On Oct 08, 2025 |
shortgun:Here is an excerpt from the judgment: “It must be recognized that the power to plan and control development of land within a State belongs to that State. The Federal Government has no power to regulate town and country planning in a State except in relation to land vested in the Federal Government or any of its agencies for Federal purposes. For federal purposes is the key word. Lagos State has power to control the development of land in the trade fair because it is not being used for federal purposes like correctional centres,FG radio outlets,FG fire fighters buildings etc. |
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