Displaced Lagos traders seek justice after market demolition
After the market was destroyed by the Nigeria Police Force on December 31, 2023, the displaced traders from the Police Officers' Wives Association Shopping Complex are still seeking justice, almost six months later.
Witnesses claimed that on January 1, 2024, four bulldozers operating under the supervision of armed police officials were present at the facility when it was being demolished.
Force Public Relations Officer Muyiwa Adejobi stated that the destruction was required to prepare the site for the construction of a modern retail complex.
Adejobi stated that the opinions of experts—who suggested that the complex presented a significant environmental risk—were taken into account while determining whether to reconstruct the complex.
The choice to demolish and rebuild is based on the assessment of experts who state that the structure as it is constitutes a looming environmental hazard, as the site is prone to flooding and may collapse.
Additionally, urgent landscaping and restoration are required. Phased demolition and reconstruction are in the best interests of all parties involved and will be carried out in a sincere manner.
"All applicable legal obligations have been fulfilled in full. The spokesperson added in part, "The current residents of the complex have been given more than enough notice of the destruction to enable them to relocate from the property in good time.
The impacted businessmen accused Mr. Emmanuel Ojibo, the managing director of Achieving Greatness Limited, and Inspector General of Police Kayode Egbetokun and his wife Elizabeth Egbetokun of violating a court order that prevented the police from moving forward with the demolition in a statement released on Monday.
The merchants who felt wronged went on to say that they had tried in vain to serve Form 48 (Notice of Consequences of Disobedience to Order of Court) on the IGP, his spouse, the developer, and other respondents. They then requested permission from the court to utilise alternative means.
In order to show their willful disregard for the court's December 18, 2023, order, the traders filed a contempt motion against the Inspector General of Police, his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Egbetokun, and Mr. Emmanuel Ojibo, the managing director of Achieving Greatness Limited. During the court case, the traders demolished the properties located at No. 30-33, Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos State.
The order of pre-emotive remedies, which was previously granted by this court, prevented the IG's wife and the developers, among others, from tearing down the property located at No. 30-33 Otigba Street, Computer Village, Ikeja, Lagos State, until the pre-action protocol was fully followed and the substantive action in this suit, dated December 18, 2023, was filed.
In a statement provided to our correspondent, the traders said that "IGP sanctioned the demolition of the complex, throwing over 1000 computer and information technology traders out of business, despite the above extant order of the court."
The organisation stated that since their properties were demolished, around two of its members had passed away, and other members were struggling with a range of medical issues.
"We are businessmen and not criminals, but in the middle of December 2023, when everyone was travelling for the Christmas and New Year holidays, we were treated as one," the traders bemoaned. After serving, more than two hundred police officers surrounded our company's property, and Caterpillar lifted it down. An unauthorised 24-hour warning was given to us.
"Even though we paid our rent and the tenement rate for that year, the IGP continued to commit barbaric acts against our fellow Nigerians.
"This careless act against fellow citizens was unnecessary because the same building underwent an integrity test and was found to be suitable for use for the next 50 years."
