The Lagos State Government has insisted that the recently demolished workshop in Ikeja area of the state was in line with the court order.
The demolition of the workshop on Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun was enforced after Lagos State Planning and Environmental Monitoring Authority, LASPEMA, an arm of the Environmental Sanitation and Enforcement Agency carried out an on-the-spot inspection following a petition received complaining of environmental pollution at the premises.
Prior to the demolition, the claimants, Rotimi Olufunsho Kolawole and Anor were arrested and arraigned before the Magistrate Court for construction of illegal shanties which serves as a hideout for criminals at the workshop premises.
The claimants filed a suit against the Lagos State Government alleging that the demolition of their workshop was wrongful and illegal. They subsequently claimed the sum of N27,800,000 as special damages for goods illegally carried away and the sum of N50,000,000 as general damages for paralyzing their business operation.
Lagos State Attorney –General/ Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN informed that the Magistrate court earlier ruled that the illegal shanties erected on the premises should be demolished and items found on the property should be evacuated to the office of the taskforce for safekeeping.
The attorney-general added that the demolition and evacuation of the items on the workshop were accordingly carried out as stated by the court ruling.
Justice J.Kasali of State High Court, Ikeja however, dismissed the suit filed by the claimants and declared the demolition was duly carried out in line with the enabling law of the state.
Justice kasali noted the claimants failed to prove and link by credible evidence of their legal right to the itemized goods in their statement to the court during the trial.
‘’The court hereby dismisses your special and general damages charges against the Lagos State Government, however, the service, arrest and conviction were duly carried out in line with the law’’ the judge ruled.