Lagos Community Demands Withdrawal Of Governor Sanwo-Olu’s Planned Destruction Of Houses In Makoko, Vows Massive Protest
Our clients’ instruction is to the effect that they carried out the same eviction in like fashion on Okobaba and Ayetoro Communities in MAKOKO in which properties of wood business worth millions of naira and thousands displaced.
Thousands of residents in Makoko, a sprawling waterfront community in Lagos State have demanded the immediate withdrawal of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led state government’s plan to demolish several houses in the community.
This was stated in a press release issued by the residents’ legal team, the Newworth Public Interest Law Bureau, signed by Lead Partner, Ayo Ademiluyi, adding that if the Lagos government is allowed to carry out the demolition, it would lead to the eviction of over 1million people.
The statement reads: “We act as Solicitors to FREEDOM IN MAKOKO, OKO-AGBON, SOGUNRO AND IWAYA (FREMOSI) and on their behalf and instructions, we issue this press statement.
“We have our clients’ instructions that the apparatus of the Lagos State Government, to wit the Lagos State Government Taskforce and their minions have laid siege in large numbers on Makoko Metropolis with boats with the aim of committing arson in the name of the state and carrying out eviction of over 1 million people before or by 12 midnight tonight.
“Our clients’ instruction is to the effect that they carried out the same eviction in like fashion on Okobaba and Ayetoro Communities in MAKOKO in which properties of wood business worth millions of naira and thousands displaced.
“We have our clients’ full instructions to demand withdrawal of siege on their communities , specifically, Oko-Agbon, Songuro and IWAYA Waterside on or before 12 midnight tonight and in the event where it fails, refuses and neglects to do say, they will be left with no choice than to exercise their fundamental rights to peaceful assembly as protected under Chapter 4 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (1999 as amended) to steamroll a mass movement from the foot of the Third Mainland Bridge, which is within their communities to the doorstep of Governor of Lagos State from 12 midnight tonight till the siege is fully withdrawn.
“We have course to also state that there is a pending legal action on this matter in CALEB DOSUNGAN & ORS v GOVERNOR OF LAGOS STATE & ORS before Honourable Justice Aneke of the Lagos Division of the Federal High Court and Lagos State Government should at least respect the rule of “lis pendens” and restrain action.”
