Confusion and anger spread across the Oworonshoki community in Lagos yesterday after more than 70 residential buildings were demolished at Ajileru, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Streets — just a few days after a Lagos High Court order stopped the state government and its agencies from carrying out further demolitions in the area.
In a ruling delivered on October 23, 2025, Justice A.G. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court, Ikeja, in Suit No. ID/9910GCM/2025, issued an interim injunction preventing the Lagos State Government, the Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) — whether acting through themselves, their employees, agents, representatives, contractors, or assigns — from continuing with the demolition of properties said to belong to members of the Itesiwaju Ajumoni Community Development Association (CDA).
The judge’s ruling specifically barred the respondents from creating any third-party interest or encumbrance over the affected properties located at Ajileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Extension within the Itesiwaju Ajumoni CDA in Oworonshoki, Lagos, covering approximately 30 hectares.
Justice Balogun stated that the injunction would remain in force pending adherence to the Pre-Action Protocol for Land Matters as provided under the High Court of Lagos State (Expeditious Disposal of Civil Cases) Practice Direction No. 2 of 1999.
The court further instructed the applicants, led by Pastor Jonathan Olusegun Ojo, Apostle Jacob Oladele Ola, and others, to serve their Memorandum of Claim and related documents on the respondents within 72 hours of the judgment and to file an affidavit of service before the next adjourned date.
Justice Balogun stressed that both sides must comply strictly with the pre-action protocol to ensure a fair hearing and to prevent misuse of the judicial process. The case was adjourned until December 9, 2025, for a report on compliance.
However, despite the existing injunction, bulldozers reportedly accompanied by security personnel arrived in the community around midnight on Saturday, demolishing houses and displacing hundreds of residents, including elderly people, pregnant women, and children.
Eyewitnesses claimed that the demolition team operated under the cover of darkness, pulling down buildings that had been spared in previous rounds.
“Our homes were demolished in the middle of the night without warning, despite the court injunction. People slept outside in the cold with their children. This is inhumane,” lamented a distressed landlord, Mr. Adewale.
Another heavily pregnant woman, who identified herself only as Adenike, described the ordeal as horrifying.
“They told us the court had stopped the demolition, so we stayed. But around 1 a.m., bulldozers came again. I ran out barefoot with my children. We lost everything,” she said tearfully.
Leaders of the Itesiwaju Ajumoni CDA denounced the demolition as “a violation of the rule of law” and “a betrayal of public trust,” arguing that no compensation or enumeration had been carried out before the renewed demolition.
Legal representatives of the community confirmed that Justice Balogun’s order remains valid and binding, warning that the latest action amounts to contempt of court.
“The actions of those behind this demolition represent a flagrant disregard for judicial authority. We will be filing a formal petition and contempt proceedings in the coming days,” one of the lawyers said.
The contested land, which covers about 30 hectares, has been at the centre of a prolonged dispute between residents and unidentified developers.
As of yesterday, the previously lively neighbourhood had become a wasteland, with displaced families scavenging through the debris in search of what was left of their possessions.
The residents have called on the Lagos State Government, human rights organisations, and the Federal Government to urgently intervene to prevent further suffering and to uphold the authority of the court’s order.
