Court
In a ruling delivered on October 23, 2025, Justice A.G. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, in Suit No. ID/9910GCM/2025, granted an interim injunction restraining the Lagos State Government, the Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) — whether by themselves, their servants, agents, privies, contractors, or assigns — from continuing with the demolition of properties allegedly belonging to members of the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Association (CDA).
The judge’s order specifically prohibited the respondents from creating any third-party interest or encumbrance over the said properties located at Ajileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Extension within the Itesiwaju Ajumoni CDA, Oworonshoki area of Lagos, measuring approximately 30 hectares.
Justice Balogun held that the restraint would subsist pending compliance with the Pre-Action Protocol for Land Matters as provided under the High Court of Lagos State (Expeditious Disposal of Civil Cases) Practice Direction No. 2 of 1999.
The court further directed the applicants, led by Pastor Jonathan Olusegun Ojo, Apostle Jacob Oladele Ola, and others, to serve their Memorandum of Claim and accompanying documents on the respondents within 72 hours of the ruling, and to file an affidavit of service before the next adjourned date.
Justice Balogun emphasized that both parties must comply fully with the pre-action protocol to ensure fair hearing and avoid abuse of court processes. The matter was adjourned to December 9, 2025, for a report of compliance.
However, despite the subsisting injunction, bulldozers allegedly escorted by security operatives rolled into the community around midnight on Saturday, pulling down houses and displacing hundreds of residents, including the elderly, pregnant women, and children.
Eyewitnesses said the demolition team operated under the cover of darkness, pulling down structures that had been spared in earlier phases.
“Our homes were demolished in the middle of the night without warning, despite the court injunction. People slept outside in the cold with their children. This is inhumane,” lamented a distraught landlord, Mr. Adewale. Vanguard
