A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has issued an interim injunction restraining the Lagos State Government and several of its agencies from carrying out demolition or eviction activities in parts of Ojo Local Government Area.
The court order extends to key agencies and officials, including the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), the Lagos State Ministry of Transportation, and the Lagos State Environmental and Special Offences Enforcement Unit, commonly known as the Task Force. It also covers the Nigeria Police Force, the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, and CSP Adetayo Akerele, among others.
Justice Musa Kakaki granted the injunction following an ex parte application filed by legal representatives of 55 residents from Church Estate 1, Church Estate 2, Jubilee Estate, and the Igbeyin-Adun community in Okokomaiko. The case, marked FHC/MISC/152/2026, seeks to shield the applicants from what they described as ongoing threats of demolition and forced eviction.
Counsel to the applicants, Femi Dodo, told the court that the residents sought legal intervention after authorities allegedly initiated moves to demolish their homes. He noted that many of the occupants have lived in the affected communities for over 50 years without dispute, until recent developments linked to proposed government projects raised concerns about displacement.
After reviewing the application, the court ordered all respondents to stay away from the communities and refrain from any actions that could lead to demolition, destruction of property, or eviction of residents, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
The court also granted permission for the applicants to serve all legal documents, including the originating summons and the interim injunction, on the respondents involved in the case.
The matter has been adjourned until April 15, 2026, for further hearing.
Notable among the applicants are Peter Okoye, Inionbong Edem Effiong, Michael Nduka Orafu, Eric Anemeje, Ilonde Okechukwu Peter, Uche Onu, and Obidike Chekwube, along with others, bringing the total number of claimants to 55.
