Fatimah Otunsanya
The Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro, SAN, has denied claims that the state government willfully disobeyed a subsisting court order by continuing demolition of houses in Oworonshoki, describing such reports as “false and unfair.”
Pedro, while briefing journalists on Tuesday at Alausa, Ikeja, said no order of court had been served on any agency of the Lagos State Government before the latest phase of demolition took place — contrary to reports that the exercise violated a restraining order allegedly obtained by residents.
According to reports, the Lagos State Government, through relevant authorities, had last Saturday demolished several structures said to have been built without approved plans.
Reacting earlier, human rights lawyer Femi Falana, SAN, had alleged that the government violated a court injunction restraining the demolition of buildings in parts of Oworonshoki.
He said the High Court of Lagos State in Ikeja had, on October 23, issued an interim order stopping further demolition on Ajileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Extension, pending compliance with pre-action protocols.
Falana stated that the defendants including the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development and the Lagos State Building Control Agency, were served the order on Friday.
However, Pedro insisted that no government agency had been formally served with any order prior to the demolition.
“As of today, I am not aware of the court order being referred to. Before the demolition exercise, no such order was served on any government agency. Even if the order was obtained on Friday, October 24, the same day the demolition took place, a government office cannot be served on a Saturday,” he said.