Metro

169 Traders Demand N3.4bn Compensation For Oluwole Market Demolition

Published

11 months ago

November 11, 2024

Some traders at the popular Oluwole Market on Lagos Island have taken the Lagos State Government and some of its agencies to court over the demolition of their shops.

The traders, represented by the Lagos Merchandise and Traders Association, are seeking N3.4bn compensation for what they claimed was an illegal demolition of their businesses.

The association, acting for itself and on behalf of 169 others, asked the Lagos State High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square to declare that the destruction of the kee-klamp they occupied at the Oluwole market was wrongful, unlawful, and unconstitutional.

Besides the association, additional claims in the case had been filed by Babro Ventures Limited and Tosh Limited.

The defendants in the suit are the Lagos State Attorney General, the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the Lagos State Development and Property Corporation and the Lagos State Urban Renewal Authority.

In a 42-paragraph statement of claim attached to the suit, the claimants stated that they had been in peaceful possession of the kee klamp and running their businesses until April 17, 2024, when officials from the Lagos State Building Control Agency threatened to demolish the kee klamp without issuing any notice.

The claimants said that in response to the threat, they instructed their lawyer to send a letter dated April 18, 2024, to the defendants, complaining about the threat and requesting that they consider that the claimants were not illegal occupants.

They argued that demolishing the kee klamp would cause substantial hardship and suffering.

The claimants further explained that they followed up the letter by meeting with the Special Adviser to the Governor on Physical Planning on April 18 and 19, 2024, where they were reassured that the demolition would not proceed.

However, they claimed that to their shock and disbelief, on April 21, 2024, the kee-klamps were demolished without any chance to salvage their goods and other items.

In 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.”

When the matter came up on Friday for hearing, the defendants were not in court, nor were they represented.

Counsel for the claimants, Silas Ukairo, told the court that they had served the defendants since July.

Consequently, Justice Olukayode Ogunjobi adjourned the case until December 6, 2024, for further proceedings and ordered that hearing notices be served on the defendants.

Metro

Police Impound Vehicle With 387 Blocks Of Cannabis In Bauchi

Published

16 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

The Bauchi state Police Command says it has impounded a vehicle with nothing less than 387 blocks of suspected cannabis sativa after involving in an auto crash in the state.

Sani Omolori-Aliyu, the Commissioner of Police in the state, disclosed this on Friday while handing over the exhibits to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Bauchi state Command.

According to him, the car and one other had a head-on collision in Wom village of Toro Local Government Area of the state on October 4, 2025 at about 11:30am.

“Initial reports from eyewitnesses and preliminary investigations indicate that the first vehicle, a white Toyota Corolla with registration number ABC-459LF, was operated by one Ali Muhammad, a 45-year-old resident of Nabardo Village.

“He was transporting the District Head of Nabardo, Suleiman Suleiman, aged 65, along with his family members as they travelled from Bauchi Metropolis to Nabardo Village.

“The second vehicle, another white Toyota Corolla with registration number GWA-155GW, was driven by an individual yet to be identified, who was travelling from Jos, Plateau State, towards Bauchi.

“It was reported that this driver attempted to overtake other vehicles without exercising adequate caution, resulting in a head-on collision with the first vehicle,” he said.

The Commissioner further explained that the occupants of both vehicles sustained varying degrees of injuries and were transported to the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital (ATBUTH) for medical care.

He said that the District Head suffered a fracture in his left leg and is currently receiving treatment with other victims while some have been discharged.

Omolori-Aliyu also revealed that in the aftermath of the incident, during the search at the scene, the detectives recovered several items in the damaged vehicle which included the 387 blocks of suspected cannabis.

The Commissioner, who explained that the command was in pursuit of the unidentified driver to ensure accountability and prompt legal action, encouraged anyone with information regarding the driver’s identity to come forward and assist in the investigation.

“The police are committed to diligently pursuing leads to identify the principal suspect.

“The Bauchi State Police Command is dedicated to maintaining peace and order in our community and urges the public to remain calm and cooperative throughout this process.

“We invite anyone with information that could aid in this investigation to contact us and we assure citizens that we are resolutely focused on ensuring justice is achieved,” he said.

While receiving the exhibits, Hussaini Umar, Deputy Commandant, NDLEA, appreciated the police for the cooperation and synergy and promised to work hand in hand to ensure that the driver and the owner were found.

Metro

Fake Revenue Agents Apprehended In Aba While Defrauding Residents

Published

21 hours ago

October 10, 2025

Editor

Abia State Harmonized Taskforce has apprehended four individuals impersonating as members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) for acts of extortion, intimidation, and illegal enforcement along the Port Harcourt Road axis of Aba and its environs.

They were nabbed on Thursday at Flyover junction around Ugwunagbo area through an operation authorized by the Aba Area Coordinator of ASHTF, Mr. Uche Wogu.

A statement issued by Miracle Chukwunenye, spokesperson of the Harmonized Task Force said that the agency received multiple complaints from market women, tricycle (Keke) operators, and traders about the unlawful activities of a group led by one Mr. Ahuama.

‎”Upon arrival, the Taskforce, in joint effort with the police, arrested Mr. Ahuama and three accomplices who were caught extorting money from unsuspecting traders and tricycle operators under the false pretense of being NURTW officials.

“Investigations revealed that the suspects had already impounded about twenty (20) tricycles earlier that morning and collected money from the owners before being intercepted,” Chukwunenye said.

‎He added that during the operation, the suspects resisted arrest and attacked Taskforce operatives and police officers, but they were eventually subdued and are now in custody.

Chukwunenye sensitized traders and transporters that Abia State operates a strict No-Cash-at-Hand revenue system, and as such, no government-authorized personnel is permitted to collect cash from citizens.