Ojo council accused of demolishing property despite court order

A property dispute involving the Ojo Local Government Area in Lagos has escalated, with allegations that council officials demolished a property despite a subsisting court judgment. The owner, Ibrahim Abubakar, claims the demolition took place on July 15, 2026, at Alaba International Market.

Abubakar alleges that a senior council official, accompanied by police officers and suspected thugs, led the destruction of his property. This action allegedly occurred despite a February 6, 2025, judgment by Justice S. Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court. The court declared Abubakar the lawful occupier and granted him a perpetual injunction restraining the Ojo council and its agents from trespassing.

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Our client had already obtained a valid judgment in respect of the property. Although the defendants filed a notice of appeal, they have not taken any further steps to prosecute it. They also filed an application for stay of execution, which is still pending before the court.

The court's judgment affirmed Abubakar's statutory right of occupancy over the land, measuring approximately 1,679.177 square meters, and ordered him to repossess any portion trespassed upon. Justice Sonaike also awarded Abubakar N1 million in damages for the defendants' unjustifiable intrusion and destruction, though Abubakar had sought N20 million.

Despite the council filing a notice of appeal and an application for a stay of execution, Abubakar claims they have taken no further steps to prosecute the appeal or await the court's decision on the stay application. He alleges the council resorted to "self-help" by demolishing the property, defying the court's subsisting judgment.

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Instead of allowing the court to determine the pending processes, they went onto the land and demolished our client’s property.