Judge orders Ambode, others to appear in court over demolition of Otodo Gbame

JUSTICE Adeniyi Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court on Thursday gave an order that the Lagos Stated governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, should appear before the court on April 6 over the demolition of Otodo Gbame community against a court ruling on January 26.

The community approached the court regarding the ongoing demolition of Otodo Gbame, one of the water front communities in Lagos, which began on March 17 against a court ruling Justice Onigbanjo delivered on January 26 ordering all parties to maintain the status quo and stop demolition.

The judge ordered Governor Ambode, the Commissioner of Police, the Attorney-General of Lagos, the Commissioner of Physical Planning and Urban Development to appear before the court on the adjourned date to give reasons why the court  order was disobeyed.

In late October 2016, after trying to engage the Lagos State government unsuccessfully, 15 waterfront communities approached the Lagos State High Court to seek protection of their fundamental rights against the threat of eviction issued by the Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode.

Evicted residents were overjoyed when, on 26 January 2017, Honourable Justice S.A. Onigbanjo issued a landmark ruling.

Justice Onigbanjo ruled that demolitions on short notice without providing alternative shelter for persons evicted constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, and ordered the parties to attempt mediation through the Lagos State Multi-Door Court House.