Shangisha Landlords Demand Enforcement of S’Court Judgement, Accuse Lagos of Defying Court Orders

The Shangisha/Magodo Landlords Association has reiterated its demand for the swift implementation of court orders mandating the Lagos State Government to distribute 549 plots of land to its members, accusing the government of obstructing the enforcement of a Supreme Court ruling. At a press conference, the association highlighted that the dispute over the land has persisted for over four decades, with successive administrations failing to adhere to judgments from the Lagos State High Court, Court of Appeal, and the Supreme Court.

According to the landlords, the government seized their land between 1984 and 1985, claiming it was necessary for constructing a hospital. Upon discovering the unlawful allocation, the association approached the government with documentation, leading to a resolution that granted them alternative plots in Magodo Scheme II. However, this resolution was never implemented, leading to the filing of Suit No. ID/795/88 in 1988 by Chief Adebayo Adeyiga and six others against the Lagos State Government.

Despite a High Court injunction in October 1992, preventing the allocation and development of the disputed land, the association claims that activities proceeded unabated. In 1993, Governor Michael Otedola issued a directive to release the land to the association, but this directive was not carried out. The High Court delivered its judgment in favor of the association on December 31, 1993, ordering the state government to allocate 549 plots to the association.

The association alleges that attempts to enforce the judgment faced resistance and violence, citing an attack on their chairman in 1994 and other incidents of violence against association members. The Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court subsequently affirmed the High Court's decision. The association emphasizes that the Supreme Court judgment has brought legal finality to the matter, and the only remaining step is for the executive authorities to comply.

They express disappointment that despite the court decisions, the dispute remains unresolved, noting that many original litigants have passed away, while their descendants continue the fight. The landlords urge Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Government to fully comply with the existing judgments and call for investigations into the circumstances surrounding the disputed land and the failure to implement the judgments.

They also question the status of the Akinola Aguda panel's report, alleging it investigated the land allocation in Lagos, including the Shangisha property. The association warns against dealing with any organization claiming to represent the original landowners and announces that contractors and suppliers will need permits from the Shangisha Landlords Association to operate within the estate.