Kings County v Lagos State Govt: ‘Government Should Not Encourage Lawlessness By Its Provocative Actions’ — Adegboruwa SAN

*Calls Out Lagos State Government For Disobeying Court’s Restraining Order With Respect To The Property

A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa SAN has called out the Lagos State Government for alleged disobedience to court order asking the government to respect the judicial arm rather than give the impression that court orders have no value or impact.

Adegboruwa made the comments with respect to the case of Kings County v Lagos State Government in Suit No. LD/8305LMW/2019 where the Lagos State Government is alleged to have earlier today trespassed the contentious property through policemen attached to the Governor’s Office.

According to Adegboruwa who gave a brief rundown of the case history, the suit relates to a property on Alexander/Bourdillon Road, at the foot of the Ikoyi Link Bridge.

In a message made available to TheNigeriaLawyer, he wrote: “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.”

According to the Human Rights Lawyer, the Claimant has closed its case and the court awaits the opening of the defence in the action.
He also noted that the Court has since delivered an order of injunction directing all parties to maintain status quo pending the determination of the suit.

“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, that is 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.”

He continued: “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.”

Adegboruwa further lamented that today, 8th of July, 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.

He stressed further: “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 it’s actions encourage lawlessness to such an extent that the citizens are provoked to take the laws into their hands.”

The case between Kings County v Lagos State Government stirred public attention earlier today when it was reported that officials from the Lagos Governor’s Office went into the building and pulled out doors and windows from the property.

In a video sighted by TheNigeriaLawyer, Policemen and government officials who were said to come from Governor’s office, were seen 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.

According to reports, the case is pending in court with an express order from the court directing Lagos State not to take any steps concerning the building.