High Court stops demolition of properties in Lagos

Sunday, March, 21 2026 - A Federal High Court in Lagos State has granted an interim injunction restraining the Lagos State Government and several of its agencies from carrying out any demolition or eviction exercise in parts of Ojo Local Government Area.

The order also affects the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA, the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit (Task Force), the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Olohundare Jimoh, CSP Adetayo Akerele and other relevant officials.

Justice Musa Kakaki issued the order following an ex parte application filed on behalf of 55 residents of Church Estate 1, Church Estate 2, Jubilee Estate, and Igbeyin-Adun community in Okokomaiko.

The suit, marked FHC/MISC/152/2026, seeks to protect the applicants from what they described as persistent threats of demolition and forceful eviction.

According to their counsel, Femi Dodo, the affected residents approached the court after authorities allegedly began moves to demolish their properties, despite their long-standing occupation of the area.

He told the court that many of the residents have lived in the communities for over five decades without dispute, until recent developments linked to proposed government projects triggered fears of displacement.

After considering the application, the court directed all the respondents to refrain from entering the communities to demolish, vandalise, or evict residents pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The court further granted permission for the applicants to serve all legal processes, including the originating summons and the interim order, on the respondents.

The matter has been adjourned to April 15, 2026, for further proceedings.

Among the applicants are Peter Okoye, Inionbong Edem Effiong, Michael Nduka Orafu, Eric Anemeje, Ilonde Okechukwu Peter, Uche Onu, Obidike Chekwube, alongside several others, bringing the total number of claimants to 55.