"There seems to be saboteurs hell bent on taking the laws into their own hands and inflicting pain on innocent citizens, thereby frustrating the government's efforts in the Housing sector.
Traders located at the estate of the estate of late Chief Olatunde Lawrence a.k.a Baba Gaskiya, have called on the Federal Government to urgently intervene in a purported land grabbing and illegal demolition of some structures by some officials of the Lagos state government as the incident has caused untold hardship on some law abiding citizens of the state.
This is coming on the heels of the recent commendation of the Lagos State Government over the new tenancy law and related matters. Findings reveal that there seems to be saboteurs hell bent on taking the laws into their own hands and inflicting pain on innocent citizens, thereby frustrating the government's efforts in the Housing sector.
Making this passionate call is Barrister O. T. Alonge-Lawrence, alongside traders who were earning their legitimate means of livelihood at the now demolished structures and properties, as they cried to government over the unfortunate position they now found themselves.
They described as illegal, the demolition of the property situated at Gaskiya College road/Olubowade Street belonging to the estate of late Chief Olatunde Lawrence, a.k.a Baba Gaskiya.
The "illegal demolition" which took place on Thursday 4th September, was allegedly carried out by some persons suspected to be land grabbers in company of the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Alausa who took laws into his hands to approve such petition despite being informed by the lawyer through the telephone calls which also includes sending all relevant and necessary documents.
A recent court order which stated that, all properties not stated on the letters of administration belonging to Chief Olatunde Lawrence on PHC 990/98 which were sold is hereby null and void and the demolished properties which are many structures of shops built by Chief Olatunde Lawrence in the seventies, were ignored as the officials of the Physical Planning and Urban Development of the Lagos State Government went ahead with the demolition exercise with the approval of the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr Olumide Olayinka and the Director for Technical Service Department under Physical Planning, Mr Obipehin through the petition written by Mr Adeleye Omopariola who is laying claims on the properties that does not belong to him because he is connected to the Commissioners. Because of his perceived connection to of government, took laws into their hands and have taken advantage of the masses who are also citizens of this great nation.
The alleged demolition has therefore rendered many of the occupants of the building homeless, including traders who claimed to have lost their means of livelihood.
This has been described as an action that contravenes the Lagos state Urban and Regional Planning Law and also considered as a setback to the government.
The Legal practitioner hinted that the matter had earlier been presented before the Court with a ruling dated 3rd of July 2025, that all sale of properties are rendered null and void and other suit before the court for the petitioner to establish or claim ownership is yet to be determined by the Court. But, despite the the pending Court processes, the officials forcefully went ahead with the demolition without regards to the Court and the Nigerian legal system and also, putting area boys and army to attack the beneficiaries and deprive them of their inheritances whereby the petitioner has started erecting the fence of the demolished property to his personal usage.
In a video shared by the lawyer, some affected occupants and traders were seen lamenting and crying for justice as their means of livelihood were totally destroyed.
Barr O.T Alonge-Lawrence, who is an appointed administrator with legal documents relating to the properties, is therefore calling on the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State Governor and the Lagos Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command as well the concerned Authorities, to wade into the matter and ensure that justice is served, just as a formal petition will be submitted to them expressly.
Reviewed by NewBuzz
on
September 09, 2025
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