Court Orders LG to Meet Aggrieved Traders

Justice Akinkunmi Idowu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, has ordered the Lagos Mainland Local Government to hold a reconciliation or deliberation meeting with the aggrieved traders from White Sand Market, Otto, Oyingbo area of the state before the next adjourned date.

The court directed the parties to deliberate on issues of demolition and reconstruction of the market on the land known as White Sand Market, Otto, as the court ordered accelerated hearing of the suit.

The plaintiffs had through their representatives, Serifat Abeke Thanni, Alhaji Garba Malami and Orji Uke Onuoha, approached the court over allegations that the Lagos Mainland Local Government is threatening to take over the market from them through demolition and reconstruction of the market.

They filed the suit marked LD/70789CM/2022 against the Lagos Mainland Local Government and the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice as first and second respondents.

Justice Idowu had on June 22 granted an interim injunction on a motion ex parte filed by the aggrieved traders, restraining the respondents and their agents, servants or privies from entering, letting, demolishing and building on the land known as White Sand Market, Otto, Oyingbo, Lagos State during the lifespan of the order which shall be for seven days.

The respondents in the suit affected by the order of the court are Lagos Mainland Local Government and the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.

The court also ordered the council agents, servants, privies and/or any other person described from letting out the land known as White Sand Market, Otto, Oyingbo, Lagos State, pending the determination of the suit and adjourned to September 28 for hearing.

At resumed hearing on September 28, counsel representing the plaintiffs, Mr M.G Quadri and the respondents counsel, Mr Tope Kolawole and Ogundare Babatunde, the court ordered the parties to meet the developers and explore the possibility of amicable resolution before the next adjourned date.

Justice Idowu, thereafter, adjourned further hearing to October 6, 2023.