In a bid to seek justice over the demolition of their shops, traders at the popular Oluwole Market on Lagos Island have taken the Lagos State Government and several of its agencies to court, demanding N3.4 billion in compensation.
Under the Lagos Merchandise and Traders Association, the traders allege that demolishing their shops was illegal and unjust.
The association, representing itself and 169 other traders, approached the Lagos State High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square, requesting a declaration that demolishing the kee-klamp structures they occupied was “wrongful, unlawful, and unconstitutional.”
Two other companies, Babro Ventures Limited and Tosh Limited, have joined the legal battle with additional claims against the defendants.
The suit lists the Lagos State Attorney General, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation, and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority as defendants.
In their statement of claim, the traders revealed they had been peacefully occupying the kee-klamp and operating their businesses until April 17, 2024, when officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency threatened demolition without prior notice.
The claimants immediately instructed their lawyer to send a letter, dated April 18, 2024, to the defendants, appealing for restraint, as they argued they were lawful occupants.
The traders also engaged in discussions with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Physical Planning on April 18 and 19, where they reportedly received assurances that the demolition would not proceed.
However, to their “shock and disbelief,” the kee-klamps were torn down on April 21, 2024, leaving them with no chance to salvage their goods and belongings.
In their suit, the claimants seek several reliefs, including: “a declaration that, by the combined effects of the terms of the judgment in suit No. LD/386/91 and the Letter of Allocation of 269 kee-klamps dated January 9, 2006, the leases granted to the first claimant and its members over the kee-klamps at the Oluwole Kee-klamps Market, Lagos Island, still remain valid.
“A declaration that, by the fifth defendant’s letter dated June 3 2006 and subsequent agreement with the second claimant over constructing 91 kee-klamp on the upper decks of Blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4, the lease granted to the second claimant over the kee-klamp still remains valid.
“A declaration that by the fifth defendant’s letter dated June 3, 2006, and subsequent agreement with the third claimant over constructing 91 kee-klamp on the upper decks of Blocks 7, 8, and 10, the lease granted to the third claimant over the kee-klamp is still subsisting.
“Damages of N10,000,000 for each of the owners of the 269 kee-klamp belonging to the first claimant and its members.
“A sum of N412,000,000 in favour of the second claimant, N317,000,000 in favour of the third claimant, and the costs of this action amounting to N5,000,000.”
When the matter came up in court on Friday, the defendants were neither present nor represented.
Counsel for the claimants, Silas Ukairo, informed the court that they had served the defendants since July.
Consequently, Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi adjourned the case to December 6, 2024, and ordered that hearing notices be served on the defendants.
