A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and counsel to Maroko evictees, Mr. Femi Falana has told the embittered clients that were resettled in Ikota-Low Cost Housing Estate, along Lagos Epe Expressway to go and value their properties for adequate compensation after the government has given their estate to a developer.
Speaking during a meeting with the leaders of Maroko evictees in Lagos Falana said: “What I told your people is that the government is talking about N1.5 million for each of the houses as compensation. Go and sit down and get people to value your houses. Because they have to consider the price of the land there, they cannot just pay for the houses alone.
“What we told the government is that for them to develop the place, there should be a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) either for developer to build adequate apartments for all the allottees or give them money to get befitting houses for themselves.”
The representatives of the Maroko evictees that attended the meeting included the leader of Maroko Evictees, Alhaji Tajudeen Jegede, matron, Mrs. Roseline Odimuko, General Secretary, Mr Bension Oketola, president of Ikota Landlord Association, Titus Ewarawon, secretary, Mr Shonuga Adeyemi and president of Ilasan Landlord Association, Prince Orioye Oluwaseyi.
According to Falana, the government had also given Ilasan Housing Estate to a developer, so the residents should also go and value their properties.
“I am aware that some of you were relocated to Ikota and some to Ilasan Housing Estate. We have been on this matter for the past three months. Some of your people came from Ikota to complain about the demolition of your houses. We called the developer that they cannot continue with the work without us having a meeting with them and the government,” he said.
He recalled that the developer said that the government has given them the go ahead to demolish the houses and send away the criminals troubling the place in Ikota.
“We told them you evicted our people from Maroko and you still want to evict them again. It will not be possible.”
He stated that they later held a meeting with the government at Alausa, where they were told that each of the houses would cost N1.5million.
“You want to evict people from their houses in Lagos and you are offering them N1.5million! What about the land? I told them that it is not possible.”
He added that the people living in Ilasan Housing Estate should also be getting ready as the developers are also going to demolish the whole place.
The leader of the Maroko evictees, Alhaji Tajudeen Jegede thanked Mr. Falana, Dr. Felix Morka and others for being there for the evictees.
The president of Ikota Landlord Association, Mr. Ewarawon said what they are asking for is for the demolition to be stopped and for the government to come and develop their estate for them. “That is our prayers,” he declared.
