Residents of Seagate Estate, Ikate, Lekki Peninsula, in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos, have cried out over the planned demolition of their property by the state government.

They alleged that the ongoing demolition plan by the Lagos State Government was in gross violation of the original laid down architectural and town planning designed for the Estate.

According to a press statement by the solicitor of the residents and property owners of the estate, Are Dotun Hassan, a combined team of the Nigerian Police and officials of the State Ministry of Physical Planning embarked upon the

“forceful invasion and illegal demolition” even when most of them have valid papers issued by the same government.

“Most regrettable is the fact that one of the victims, Mr. Akindele Ilesanmi Alfred, have obtained valid building permit and all necessary government valid documentations, yet he was served a contravention and demolition notice on his twin buildings. Both his and other numerous victims houses worth over N100 billion is gruesomely targeted for demolition without due process and court order.

“(Besides), the ongoing demolition plan by the State Government was in gross violation of the original laid down architectural and town planning designed for the Seagate Estate.”

They also alleged that the initial drawn plan for the road construction design was abandoned and intentionally omitted, while some close associates of State Governor Babajide Sanwolu led by one Mr. Akintola Oladejo of Bela Residential, Prestige Homes and other friends of the Governor connived with the officials of the Lagos State Government to “deceitfully and clandestinely” divert the proposed road construction from Cowrie Creek Street to inward Seagate Estate, Palm Spring Road, Lekki, Lagos.

They lamented that the estate wherein innocent persons lived for many years and built their hard-earned houses worth billions of naira within the area is about to be destroyed.

They pleaded with the Governor to discontinue with the on-going demolition exercise and maintain absolute caution, while immediately “stopping this ill-motivated and illegal demolition spree led by Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Dr. Idris Salako, and his co-accomplices.”

The press statement further notes: “We (ask) Mr Governor to retract and withdraw, through the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the earlier ill-advised actions in this regard, having acted ultra vires and in breach of (the) fundamental human rights, and other ancillary statutory laws and constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“This inhuman action is a double jeopardy in gross violation of the Governor’s sworn oath of office to treat all citizens equally, protect and adequately ensure total welfare of the good people of Lagos State.

“We hereby reiterate that this press release shall serve as valid pre-action notice and final warning, predicated on our well marshaled consequential drastic and legal sanctions for both criminal and civil litigations respectively while filing for compensation damages of properties and victim’s health as well as unbearable pains, agony and unending psychological traumas.

“We shall be seeking equitable justice concurrently for specific and general damages against the Lagos State Government and any other accomplices found culpable at a court of competent jurisdiction forthwith.

“We wish to demand for equitable justice on behalf of all the innocent victims – for the state government to immediately stop the demolition of all the houses within Seagate Estate, Ikate, Lekki, Lagos, forthwith. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere,” the residents emphasised.