Supreme Court Rejects Lagos State Government’s Application in Magodo Land Dispute

The long-standing dispute between the Lagos State Government and the Shangisha Landlords Association over Choiced Magodo Land continues, as the Supreme Court has once again dismissed Lagos State’s application for the interpretation of its 12-year-old judgment.

This judgment had compelled the state to allocate 549 plots of land to the Landlords within Magodo Estate as a matter of first priority.

The rift escalated two years ago when the landlords, led by Chief Adeyiga (Judgment Creditors), sought to enforce the Apex Court Judgment. In February 2022, the Lagos State Government sought relief, including a request to vary or review the 2012 judgment in suit No SC 1/2/2002 between the Military Government of Lagos State and Chief Adebayo Adeyiga and six others.

A five-man panel led by Justice Inyang Okoro of the Supreme Court recently informed Aare Muyiwa Akinboro (SAN), representing Lagos State, and Olumide Sofowora SAN, and Deji Fasusi for Shangisha landlords, that they had no power to grant the requested relief.

The court advised both parties to accept the earlier decision and resolve the matter amicably.

The justices emphasized that the judgment was clear, and they were no longer in a position to determine any right or request from either party. Consequently, the Lagos State government withdrew its application before it was struck out by the court.

The legal dispute over Magodo land began 38 years ago when the Lagos State Government acquired the land and later allocated it to private individuals for development. The original occupants, including Chief Adebayo and others, approached the Lagos High Court on behalf of all landlords, leading to a series of legal battles.

Despite court orders to halt activities on the disputed land, the government and its allottees continued to develop and sell properties in the area. The Supreme Court eventually ruled in favor of the landlords, directing the government to allocate 549 plots of land to the association and its members.

Despite this ruling, the Lagos State government sought to overturn the decision in the Appeal Court, where the lower court’s judgment was upheld. The matter was then taken to the Supreme Court, which again ruled against the state government, confirming the allocation of land to the aggrieved landlords.

In the recent ruling, Justice Okoro emphasized the finality of the court’s decision, urging both parties to find an amicable solution without further litigation.