A lawyer, Chief Olugbenga Ayo-Odugbesan, has notified the Lagos State Government of his intention to commence legal action against the state for alleged encroachment on the Lekki corridor.
According to Ayo-Odugbesan, the applicants are the developers, the registered land owners, existing residents and others (with approved layouts), Lekki-Lagos residents, Lekki-Lagos tax payers and other classified as strategic stakeholders within the Lekki corridor of Lagos State.
The notification was contained in a letter dated March 8, 2022 and titled Notice of Intention to Commence Legal Action addressed to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa.
The letter was copied to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice; the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Lands; the General Manager, Lagos State New Towns Development Authority among others.
The letter complained of alleged threats to lives and properties, the unlawful lease of various parts of the land earmarked for the Lekki-Lagoscoastal road to C.L.A,M Church, various events centre developers, private estate/house developers among others arising from concession of the Lekki corridor over public interest.
It referred to all previous letters, communication, messages, meetings, site visits, text and mail-messages and other publications in national dailies on the matter in dispute.
It stated: “We wish to inform you, that it is the informed opinion of our clients, that a piece or parcel of land that was acquired by any level of government for – “An Overriding Public Purpose” as contained in the Land Use Act, (Coastal Road in this ease) cannot be converted or jettisoned for the use of allocation to a mosque, church, events planners or other private housing or commercial developmental purposes.
“This letter therefore, serves as a pre-action notice of our clients’ intention to commence legal action against you, jointly and or severally, via a Writ of Summons or Originating Summons after 21 days from the date hereof, for the appropriate reliefs and or interpretation/determination of the following questions and reliefs flowing therefrom:
Ayo-Odugbesan listed two issues to be determined by the court: “Whether by virtue of the Land uUse Act 1978, the Governor of Lagos State or any of its agencies can temporarily or permanently, convert, license or allocate any part or portion of the land acquired for the Lekki-Lagos coastal road, to any church, mosque, events center, private estate / house developer or for any other purpose which does not constitute an overriding public purpose.
”Or whether by virtue of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended) the Governor of Lagos State or any of its agencies can temporarily or permanently, convert, license or allocate any party or portion of the land acquired for the Lekki-Lagos coastal road to a church, mosque, events center, private, house / estate developers or for any other purpose that may threaten the lives, privacy and or quiet enjoyment of properties lawfully acquired by our clients”.