The Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has issued an injunction stopping the Lagos State Government from carrying out further demolitions in parts of the Oworonshoki area.
Hon. Justice A.G. Balogun gave the order on Thursday, October 23, 2025, in a case involving the Lagos State Government, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA). The injunction restrains them from demolishing more buildings along Ajileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Extension within the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Area until they comply with the pre-action protocol required under the High Court of Lagos State Practice Direction No. 2 of 1999 for land matters.
According to information obtained by Mediaplusng.com, certified true copies of the court order were served to the defendants on Friday, October 24, 2025. However, despite the injunction, the defendants allegedly returned to the community with over 50 armed policemen and thugs. Witnesses report that the security team fired teargas overnight to disperse residents protesting the demolition, before resuming the exercise.
The demolition, which reportedly took place in the early hours, resulted in the destruction of more than 100 properties, leaving many families homeless. Residents and community leaders described the action as a “clear violation” of the subsisting court order, stressing that no new authorization was granted by any court for the demolition.
Legal analysts told Mediaplusng.com that the incident echoes the historical case of Military Governor of Lagos State & Ors. v. Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu & Anor. (1986) 2 NWLR (Pt 18) 621, where the Supreme Court condemned similar disregard for judicial authority. In that ruling, the late Justice Obaseki famously stated that “in a country governed by the rule of law, there is no room for self-help by force.”
Observers are now calling on the Lagos State Government to respect the judicial process, uphold due process, and ensure that affected residents receive justice.
