Lagos Marker: See Reasons 169 Traders Seek N3.4bn Compensation
A group of traders from the well-known Oluwole Market on Lagos Island has filed a lawsuit against the Lagos State Government and several of its agencies, demanding N3.4 billion in compensation for the demolition of their shops. The traders, represented by the Lagos Merchandise and Traders Association, claim that their businesses were unlawfully destroyed.
The association, acting on behalf of itself and 169 other traders, has approached the Lagos State High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square, asking for a ruling that the demolition of their kiosks was illegal, unconstitutional, and wrongful.
In addition to the association, two other entities, Babro Ventures Limited and Tosh Limited, have joined the case with their own claims. The lawsuit targets several defendants, including the Lagos State Attorney General, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority.
In the 42-paragraph statement of claim attached to the suit, the traders state that they had been peacefully operating their businesses until April 17, 2024, when officials from the LASBCA threatened to demolish their kiosks without prior notice. In response to this threat, the traders instructed their lawyer to send a formal letter on April 18, 2024, addressing the threat and asserting that they were not illegal occupants.
The traders argue that demolishing the kiosks would cause them significant hardship, and they further explained that they had a meeting with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Physical Planning on April 18 and 19, 2024, during which they were assured that the demolition would not take place. However, they were shocked when the demolition occurred on April 21, 2024, without any opportunity to remove their goods.
The traders’ suit seeks various declarations and reliefs, including:
A declaration that the leases granted to the first claimant and its members for the kiosks at Oluwole Market remain valid, based on a 2006 letter of allocation and a previous court ruling in suit No. LD/386/91.
A declaration that the lease agreements between the second claimant and the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation (the fifth defendant) for the construction of kiosks on the upper decks of certain blocks remain valid.
A declaration that the lease agreements with the third claimant for kiosks on other blocks remain in force.
A claim for damages of N10,000,000 for each of the 269 kiosks owned by the first claimant and its members.
Compensation of N412,000,000 for the second claimant, N317,000,000 for the third claimant, and N5,000,000 in legal costs.
When the case was heard on Friday, none of the defendants appeared in court or had legal representation. The claimants’ lawyer, Silas Ukairo, informed the court that the defendants had been served with notices since July. Consequently, Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi adjourned the case until December 6, 2024, for further proceedings and ordered that hearing notices be reissued to the defendants.
