A group of traders from the popular Oluwole Market on Lagos Island have taken the Lagos State Government and its agencies to court over the demolition of their shops, seeking N3.4 billion in compensation.
The traders, represented by the Lagos Merchandise and Traders Association, claim that the demolition was illegal and are asking the Lagos State High Court to declare the destruction of their kee-klamp unlawful and unconstitutional.
According to their suit, the claimants seek several reliefs, including: “a declaration that, by the combined effects of the terms of the judgment in suit No. LD/386/91 and the Letter of Allocation of 269 kee-klamps dated January 9, 2006, the leases granted to the first claimant and its members over the kee-klamps at the Oluwole Kee-klamps Market, Lagos Island, still remain valid.
“A declaration that, by the fifth defendant’s letter dated June 3 2006 and subsequent agreement with the second claimant over constructing 91 kee-klamp on the upper decks of Blocks 1, 2, 3, and 4, the lease granted to the second claimant over the kee-klamp still remains valid.
“A declaration that by the fifth defendant’s letter dated June 3, 2006, and subsequent agreement with the third claimant over constructing 91 kee-klamp on the upper decks of Blocks 7, 8, and 10, the lease granted to the third claimant over the kee-klamp is still subsisting.
“Damages of N10,000,000 for each of the owners of the 269 kee-klamp belonging to the first claimant and its members.
“A sum of N412,000,000 in favour of the second claimant, N317,000,000 in favour of the third claimant, and the costs of this action amounting to N5,000,000.”
The case came up for hearing on Friday, but the defendants were absent and unrepresented. Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi adjourned the case until December 6, 2024, and ordered that hearing notices be served on the defendants.
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Jerome Kalu
Jerome Kalu is currently the Senior Correspondent of PIJAlance in Lagos. He was previously the Campus Information Desk (CID) Editor.