The suit filed by some traders and business entities over the alleged unlawful demolition of kee-klamps at the Oluwole Market, Lagos Island, has been referred for a case management conference before Justice Akingbola George of the Lagos State High Court, sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square.
At the last sitting on June 30, 2025, counsel to the claimants, Mr Silas Ukairo, informed the court that the matter was for a case management conference.
He then prayed the court to grant him leave to regularise the claimants’ statement of claim.
Upon consideration, the court granted the application by the claimants to file additional documents and call further witnesses in support of their case.
The matter was adjourned to November 4, 2025, for continuation.
The suit, marked LD/2132GCMW/2024, was initially assigned to Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi.
When the matter first came up on November 10, 2024, none of the defendants was represented in court, prompting an adjournment to December 6, 2024.
The claimants, Lagos Merchandise and Traders Association, Babro Ventures Limited, and Tosh Limited, are seeking N3.4bn in damages over the demolition of 269 kee-klamps used for business activities at Oluwole Market.
The Lagos Merchandise and Traders Association is suing on behalf of itself and 169 affected traders.
In their pleadings, the claimants assert that they were in peaceful possession of the kee-klamps until April 21, 2024, when officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency allegedly carried out a demolition without notice.
They noted that a letter had been sent to the relevant agencies on April 18, 2024, after threats of demolition emerged, and that a meeting was subsequently held on April 18 and 19 with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Physical Planning, who reportedly assured them that no demolition would occur.
However, the traders claim the demolition was carried out in disregard of that assurance and that they were given no opportunity to salvage their goods or belongings.
The claimants seek the following reliefs: A declaration that the demolition was wrongful, unlawful, and unconstitutional; A confirmation that the leases granted over the kee-klamps remain valid and subsisting; N10m, in damages for each of the 269 traders; N412m, for Babro Ventures Limited; N317m for Tosh Limited; and N5m, as the cost of the suit.
At the resumed hearing on December 6, Justice Ogunjobi issued a stern warning, threatening to enter judgment against the defendants for failing to appear or file a defence.
The defendants in the suit include the Attorney General of Lagos State, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority, as well as two individuals, Olajide Abiodun and Adeyiga Adeleke.
Claimants’ counsel, Silas Ukairo, informed the court that all defendants had been duly served since July 2024 but failed to respond.
At that proceeding, Mrs A.O. Ajaga appeared for the first and fifth defendants: the Attorney General and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority, confirming that a statement of defence dated December 4, 2024, had been filed on their behalf.
However, the second, third, and fourth defendants remained unrepresented.
When questioned by the court, Ajaga stated that she was not aware of any notice of demolition issued before the alleged incident.
Ogunjobi then ordered that hearing notices be served afresh on the unrepresented defendants, warning that failure to attend the next hearing would result in judgment being entered against them.
“Please send hearing notices to the other defendants, and if they don’t come for the hearing, I will enter judgment against them,” the judge stated.
He also directed Ajaga to personally ensure that the other defendants were notified.
The case was adjourned to January 17, 2025, for further proceedings.
At the June 30 case management conference, Peter Owolabi and Alimat Ajayi appeared for the first to fifth defendants, while the sixth and seventh defendants were unrepresented.
Consequently, Justice George granted the claimants leave to regularise their processes and adjourned the matter to November 4, 2025, for further directions.
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