By CHARLES IWUOHA

Foremost human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN, has appealed to the Lagos State government to obey an order of a court of competent jurisdiction in relating to a property on Alexander/Bourdillon Road, at the foot of the lkoyi Link Bridge.

Adegboruwa in a statement made available to News Express on Friday berated the Lagos government for Disobeying of Court Order on the same property.

The statement reads in part: “It is the subject matter of litigation in Suit No. LD/8305LMW/2019, currently pending before the Hon Justice Ogunjobi of the High Court of Lagos State.

“The claimant erected the with full government approval, as a free Cancer Treatment Center. In this case, the Claimant has closed its case and it was for defence to open on 4th July, 2022.

“On that day, the claimant was in court with its lawyers but the witness of the defendants was not in court so further trial had to be adjourned.

“On July 25, 2019, the Honourable Justice Okunnu made an order, directing the parties to maintain the status quo in the case.

“In particular, the court directed the defendants, Lagos State Government and all its functionaries, not to take any step towards revoking or acquiring the property of the claimant whilst the case is in court.

“After the issuance of the order preserving the res, the Lagos State Government through the office of the Hon AG in the court proceedings of 30 Sept 2020, indicated on record that the Defendants are complying with the said preservative orders.

“On July 8, 2022, policemen said to be from the office of the Governor of Lagos State, stormed the building, removing its windows and doors.

“Upon inquiry, they claimed that they had an order to demolish the building.

“It is unlawful for government to seek to take the laws into its hands in order to overreach the case that is pending in court.

“The executive arm of government should accord respect to the judicial arm and not to give the impression that court orders have no value or impact.

“Government should not by its actions encourage lawlessness to such an extent that the citizens are provoked to take the laws into their hands.

“This is nothing but lawlessness.

“Policemen, thugs and government officials who were said to come from Governor’s office, started removing the windows of the building and using sledge hammers to break the doors.

“They had a standby truck to pack the windows and doors away. The case is pending in court with an express order from the court directing Lagos State not to take any steps concerning the building. This is totally unacceptable.”

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