Oworonshoki Demolitions: Lagos Government Insists It Was Not Served Court Order

The Lagos State Government has denied claims that it disobeyed a court order during the recent demolition exercise in Oworonshoki, stating that no restraining order was served on any of its agencies before the action was carried out.

Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Lawal Pedro (SAN), made this clarification during a press briefing in Ikeja, where he described reports that the government ignored a court directive as false. According to him, the government could not have violated an injunction that was never formally received.

“Before the demolition exercise, no such order was served on any government agency,” Pedro explained, adding that even if an injunction had been obtained on Friday, October 24, the service of such an order on a Saturday would be improper.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) had earlier claimed that a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja granted an interim order on October 23, restraining further demolition on Ajileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Extension in Oworonshoki. He also said the order had been served on the state’s Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, as well as the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

Pedro, however, maintained that the government cannot be held in contempt until proper service is made. He noted that the demolition began about a month ago but was suspended at the directive of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to allow residents time to move out.

He further explained that only illegal structures erected without proper approval on government-acquired land were targeted. “The narrative that we disobeyed the court is false. What we are witnessing is an attempt to politicise and misrepresent lawful enforcement actions,” he said.