Catholic Church Challenges Lagos Govt Over Property Ownership

The Catholic Archdiocese of Lagos is disputing a decision made by the Lagos State High Court which declared the government as the rightful owner of a property at No. 17/19 Okoya Street, Idumagbo, Lagos Island. The church is now appealing to the Court of Appeal, Lagos Division, to overturn the decision made by Justice I.O. Kasali on January 10, 2018.

In its appeal, the church contends that the State Government's acquisition of St. Patrick's Catholic Primary School did not automatically grant them ownership of the land where the school stands. The church argues that they bought the entire property from the Lagos Executive Development Board in 1938, with the purchase registered in the Lands Registry.

They present the title document as proof of their ownership and deny that the government had any legal right to claim the property. The church also challenges the lower court's decision to rule in favor of the government based on the assumption that the government took control of the school in 1979. The church maintains that an admission of control over a school does not automatically grant ownership of the land.