Human rights lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN), has condemned the recent demolition of buildings in Oworonshoki, Lagos State, describing the action as a violation of the Nigerian Constitution and a breach of a subsisting court order restraining the state government from carrying out the exercise.
Speaking during an interview on Arise Television on Friday, Falana said the demolition—reportedly executed at night by government officials—was illegal and contrary to due process as provided by Nigerian laws.
He explained that under Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution, every Nigerian has the right to own property anywhere in the country, a right further guaranteed by Article 14 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights.
“None of the provisions of Chapter Four of the Constitution can be violated without due process. When it comes to demolitions, the law provides clear procedures, including statutory notices and appeal mechanisms,” Falana stated.
The Senior Advocate stressed that no governor or minister has constitutional authority to arbitrarily order demolitions, insisting that only a competent court or legally constituted tribunal can make such determinations.
“You have to go to court to prove that the owner has violated the law. Only then can the court decide whether a demolition should proceed,” he added.
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Falana revealed that affected residents, some of whom had not received compensation, approached his law firm, which obtained a restraining order from the Lagos State High Court halting further demolitions pending the hearing of the matter.
“The court granted the order on Thursday last week, and certified copies were served on the relevant government agencies. Yet, by Saturday night, bulldozers invaded Oworonshoki. When I contacted an official, he said, ‘We are going to do it, and heaven will not fall,’” he recounted.
However, the Lagos State Government has denied any wrongdoing. According to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Gbenga Omotoso, the exercise was part of an urban renewal initiative aimed at restoring the environmental integrity of the area.
Omotoso maintained that the operation targeted only illegal structures built on drainage channels and road setbacks, adding that the state respects court orders and has pledged to provide additional compensation to verified property owners.