Shangisha landlords urge Lagos to obey NJC directives over Magodo land matters

The Shangisha Landlords’ Association (SLA) has called on the Lagos State government to accede to the directives given by the Nigerian Judicial Council (NJC), ordering the Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, to give the association the authority to possess the 549 plots in Magodo Scheme 11, in line with the Supreme Court’s judgment.

The request was sequel to the writ of possession of March 16, 2017, that emanated from the Supreme Court’s judgment, which ordered that landlords be given 549 plots of lands at the site, but which Lagos State government allegedly preventing  Justice Atilade to sign. This is  five years after the Supreme Court ruled in favour of the association over the lands in question.

In a statement signed by the association’s chairman, Chief Adebayo Adeyiga, the group, while urging Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to do the necessary, accused some officials of either feeding him with falsehood, or just exhibiting deliberate and flagrant disobedience to the Supreme Court’s judgment.

According to Adeyiga, the association regretted government instead of obeying the Supreme Court’s judgment, now suggesting  allocation of alternative land, which is contrary to the judgment of the lower, Appeal and Supreme courts.

“How can Lagos State government suggest that the judgment creditors (the Shangisha Landlords’ Association) allow the benefactors who are considered illegal occupants and trespassers by the SCN judgment’s interpretations to remain on the adjudged land, when we, who are bonafide owners were advised to vacate the land for another alternative land, which we believe would lead to another round of controversy and perhaps, litigation by the original owners of the contemplated alternatives. Land that might deceptively collected from them the name of ‘overriding public interest?”

“Our association believe that in the alternative, the only way out is for the judgment debtors and their agent/privies, the Magodo Residents Association (MRA), to reach out to us, the Landlords’ Association of Shangisha/Magodo, to enable them rectify their title with us, we, the judgment creditors.

“This will enable the Magodo Resident Association (MRA), to rectify their title, or in the alternative, to concede all the yet to be occupied parcel of land and landed properties to meet the judgment of 549 plots, ordered by the Supreme Court of Nigeria,” he said.

The issue has been dragging since 1988, leading to a case  ID/795/88, instituted on June 1988, by the Shangisha Landlords’ Association, led by Chief Adebayo Adeyiga and six others, who were authorised by an order of the trial made by Honourable Justice W.A. Oshodi, for the said chairman and 16 other members to do their case in representative capacity on behalf of all other members.

On October 9, 1999, Justice Akinola Aguda, at his Tribunal sitting, on visiting Magodo, accompanied by land officials, officials from Justice Ministry and members of Shangisha Landlords’ Association in attendance, warned the developers on the site including the Ikosi QRA, to stop development until matter would be disposed off at the Appellate Court.

The case was dragged to the Supreme Court, where the association was also granted the judgment to take possession of the 549 plots, earlier recommended by Lower and the Appeal courts.

“Unfortunately, despite the Supreme Court’s judgment, succeeding Attorney-Generals and Solicitor Generals, which include Mr Ade Ipaye and Mr Lawal Pedro, were unable to execute the judgment, before coming into office, the current Governor, Mr Akinwunmi Ambode, whom we believed will give us redress.

“On June 2, 2016, the Lagos Attorney General, Mr Adeniji Kazeem, invited us to a meeting where we gave him memorandum for settlement, which nothing has not being done till date, and doing all they can do to frustrate the writ of possession ordered by the CJN, for execution, but which the Attorney General is yet to comply with.”

All efforts by the Nigerian Tribune to get the reaction from Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Steve Ayorinde, proved abortive, before the story is being filed, as he is yet to pick his call or respond to the text messages forwarded to him.