by Alexander O. Onukwue

There has been some jubilation for the common man as a Lagos High Court sitting in the Igbosere area of Lagos Island ruled that the Lagos State Government should not proceed with any further evictions at Otodo Gbame.

The restraint was issued in a pronouncement by Justice Surajudeen Onigbangbo on Wednesday, June 21, 2017, following a suit filed by 33 applicants on behalf of themselves and other residents of the settlements. The suit included the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner of Justice, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Governor and the Commissioner of Police as the first, second, third and fourth respondents.

While clarifying that there was no dispute as to the ownership of the land, the Justice remarked that the Government and the unsettled people of Otodo Gbame had more in common and would have to try more to work out the differences to arrive at more amicable solutions.

In an explained humane statement, Justice Onigbangbo observed that “the applicants never claimed ownership of the land” but that it will be wrong for the Government to evict them with force from a land they have been on for several years.

Expounding further on the illegality of the evictions, Justice Onigbangbo stated that, the Lagos State Government, even if it wanted to undertake a reconstruction of the place for some other purpose, should have provided “alternative settlements before embarking on the forcible eviction of the applicants”, declaring it as “unconstitutional”.

The victory of the applicants and the people of Otodo Gbame signifies that the Judiciary has still got its focus right, as being the last hope of the common man. It further strengthens the resolve of those who have undertaken the cost of catering for the displaced members of the community to keep up in their duty to caring for the least recognised in the society.

It also reminds the Government of Lagos State that it is responsible for all its residents, not just those who are able to purchase lands, and own industries. It was ironic that the demolitions and evictions were carried out intensely amidst the razzmatazz of the #LagosAt50 celebrations. With the events of the commemoration now over, the Government must now shed any fears of being embarrassed by the sight of dirty slums and get to the duty of providing good livelihoods for all residents of Lagos State.

Editor