LAGOS TRADERS CRY OUT OVER ILLEGAL DEMOLITION .... Seek Govt Intervention Over Destruction Of Properties

.... As Administrators and beneficiaries are therefore calling on the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State Governor and the Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command as well the concerned authorities, to wade into the matter and ensure that justice is served 

Despite the commendation to the Lagos State Government over the new tenancy law and related matters in recent weeks, saboteurs seem hell bent on taking laws into their own hands and infringing pain on innocent citizens, thereby frustrating the government's efforts in the housing sector. 

This was the feeling expressed by traders and families earning their means of livelihood at a property situated at Gaskiya College Road/Olubowade Street belonging to the estate of Chief Olatunde Lawrence, a.k.a Baba Gaskiya, following the illegal demolition of the estate. 

The alleged "illegal demolition" took place on Thursday 4th September which was purportedly carried out by some assailants suspected to be land grabbers in company of the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Alausa who took laws into his hands to approve such petition despite being informed by a legal practitioner, Barrister O.T Alonge-Lawrence through numerous telephone calls including sending all the relevant documents to provide necessary clarifications as to genuine ownership. 

The documents also included a recent court order which stated that, all properties not stated on the letters of administration belonging to Chief Olatunde Lawrence on PHC 990/98 which were sold is hereby null and void and the demolished properties which are many structures of shops built by Chief Olatunde Lawrence in the seventies were demolished by officials of the physical planning and urban development Lagos State government with the approval of the Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Mr. Olumide Olayinka and the Director for Technical Service Department under Physical Planning, Mr Obipehin through the petition written by Mr Adeleye Omopariola who is laying claims on the properties that does not belong to him because, he is connected to the Commissioners and because of that they are taking laws into their hands and taking advantage of the masses who are also citizens of this great nation. 

The illegal demolition has therefore rendered many of the occupants of the building homelessness, including traders who claimed to have lost their means of livelihood.

An action which Contravenes the Lagos state Urban and Regional Planning law and also considered as a setback to the government.

The estate representatives who are the administrators hinted that the matter had earlier presented before the Court with a ruling dated 3rd of July 2025, that all sale of properties are rendered null and void and other suit before the court for the petitioner to establish or claim ownership is yet to be determined by the Court, but despite the the pending Court processes, the assailants forcefully went ahead with the demolition without regards to the Court and the Nigerian legal system also putting area boys and army to attack the beneficiaries and deprived them of their inheritances whereby the petitioner has started erecting the fence for the demolished property to his personal usage. 

In a video shared by the lawyer, some affected occupants and Traders were seen lamenting and crying for justice as their means of livelihood were totally destroyed. 

The appointed Administrators and bona fide Beneficiaries of the estate with legal documents relating to the properties and their position as Administrators and beneficiaries are therefore calling on the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State Governor and the Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command as well the concerned authorities, to wade into the matter and ensure that justice is served, just as a formal petition will be submitted to them expressly.