Falana Accuses Lagos Govt of Defying Court Order, Demolishing 100 Homes in Oworonshoki

Human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, has accused the Lagos State Government of demolishing over 100 properties in Oworonshoki, despite a subsisting court order restraining the authorities from doing so.

Falana, in a statement on Sunday, October 26, described the action as a “flagrant breach and contempt” of the rule of law, warning that the state’s disregard for judicial authority was setting a dangerous precedent.

“In flagrant breach and contempt of the subsisting court order and upon the service of the court order on them, the defendants mobilised over 50 armed policemen and thugs who fired teargas throughout the night to disperse those protesting the demolition and proceeded to commence a fresh demolition,” the statement read.

The controversy follows a ruling delivered last Thursday by Justice Adegboyega Balogun of the Lagos State High Court, who issued an interim injunction restraining the state government and its agents from carrying out further demolitions in parts of Oworonshoki.

The order, obtained by affected residents, covered properties located on Ojileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Street within the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Area (CDA).

The residents had complained that their homes were being destroyed without compensation, prompting the court to intervene.

“The respondents, their agents, or contractors are hereby restrained from demolishing or creating third-party interests over the identified properties pending the determination of the substantive suit,” the judge ruled.

However, despite the injunction, the state government reportedly continued the demolition exercise, displacing scores of families in the process.

Falana, in his reaction, said the fresh demolition was carried out in the dead of the night, with police officers and armed thugs providing cover for the demolition squad.

“The demolition, which was carried out in the dead of the night, has led to the destruction of not less than 100 properties, with many families displaced. The action of the demolition squad was not authorised by any court,” he stated.

He likened the development to the 1986 Supreme Court case of Military Governor of Lagos State v. Chief Emeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, where the court condemned the Lagos government for disregarding a subsisting court order.

“The action of the demolition squad is a sad reminder of the aggravated contempt committed by the Lagos State Government, 39 years ago, in the celebrated Ojukwu case,” he said.
“Even under a military regime, the Supreme Court held that no government has the right to resort to self-help once a matter is before the court.”

Quoting the late Justice Obaseki (JSC) from the 1986 ruling, Falana reminded the government that the rule of law and the rule of force cannot coexist in a democratic society.

“In an area where the rule of law operates, the rule of self-help by force is abandoned,” Falana said.
“Nigeria, being one of the countries that loudly proclaims adherence to the rule of law, has no room for the rule of self-help to operate. Once a dispute has been brought before the court, it is the duty of the government to allow the law to take its course.”

He urged the Lagos State Government to immediately halt further demolitions and respect judicial pronouncements, warning that continued defiance could erode public trust in democratic institutions.

Residents of Oworonshoki have, in recent weeks, raised concerns over mass demolitions linked to the state’s waterfront redevelopment plan, which authorities say aims to curb illegal structures and flooding.

However, affected homeowners insist they were not duly notified or compensated, accusing the government of targeting low-income communities without providing alternative housing.