Court halts further demolition of Broad Street property after council’s quit notice

A Lagos State High Court has moved to preserve a disputed property at 168 Broad Street, Lagos Island, after demolition had already begun and further construction was allegedly being prepared.

Justice Yetunde Adesanya granted a pre-emptive order stopping additional demolition and construction. The application followed a 48-hour quit notice from Lagos Island Local Government, which directed occupants to leave and remove containers and other structures the council described as illegal.

Dr. Abimbola Adebowale, identified as the property’s alleged owner, claimed that the premises were partly demolished and later taken over by Taiwo Ige Yusuf. She alleged that tenants were forcibly removed without notice or her consent, and that the remaining structure was barricaded with aluminium zinc ahead of further demolition and construction.

An affidavit filed by Babatunde Bello of United Capital Trustee Limited said the company had managed the property since 2016 without disturbance. Bello said Adebowale appointed the company trustee of her properties through a deed dated August 8, 2026. He also alleged that the tenants were ejected and part of the structure demolished in the middle of the night on August 19, 2026.

Adebowale’s lawyer, Waheed Isiaka, asked the court to preserve the property until the parties completed the pre-action protocol. He relied on Orders 1 and 2 of Practice Direction No. 2 of 2019, which allow pre-emptive remedies where necessary to prevent irreparable damage or serious mischief. The ruling was issued after the council’s enforcement notice became part of the broader property dispute.