A Lagos High Court ruling has restored all landlords and residents of Balogun Street Extension, Iwaya, Yaba, who were forcibly evicted by Lagos State Government to their land after the demolition of their property by the government.
Justice Ronke Harrison delivered interlocutory judgment on October 29, 2019 after arguments by their counsel, Mr. Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa (SAN).Residents and landlords of the mainland community in Iwaya area of Lagos State woke up to bulldozers, armed soldiers and policemen on August 18, 2017 from the Lagos State Government, which proceeded to demolish over 100 houses and displacing families with property worth millions of naira damaged in the process.
Confused and bruised, the landlords and residents approached Adegboruwa, who agreed to take up their case in court pro bono (free of charge). Upon proper investigation, it was discovered that the landlords bought their various plots of land from the Delfino Anthonio Da Meranda family and that they had all valid documents of title in proof of their ownership.
Consequently, Adegboruwa proceeded to file a case in court against the Lagos State Government, seeking among other reliefs a declaration that the demolition and wanton destruction of the claimants’ houses, buildings and structures at Balogun Street Extension, Iwaya, Yaba on August 18, 2017 by the officials of the first and fourth defendants constitutes an infringement of the claimants’ rights to property and is unlawful, unconstitutional and illegal.
The claimants also asked for a declaration that the claimants are entitled to statutory right of occupancy of all that land known as Balogun Street Extension community, Iwaya in Yaba Local Council of Lagos State, including that they are entitled to possession of all the land.
They also asked for a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from trespassing on or further demolishing the structures on the land belonging to the claimants known as Balogun Street Extension community, Iwaya in Yaba Local Council of Lagos State.
