Crisis erupted at Magodo area of Lagos on Tuesday after policemen stormed the area to effect an order of the Supreme Court which mandated Lagos State Government to give back 549 plots to the Adeyiga family.
It was gathered that the Shangisha Landlords Association in the area put up a shield and prevented the takeover. The gates were locked, leaving residents and visitors stranded.
Chairman, board of trustees of Magodo Residents Association who identified himself as Prof Ogunye told journalists on Wednesday that hoodlums posing as bailiffs came to the area with policemen and were marking buildings with new looks or uncompleted ones for takeover.
“It is true that the Supreme Court gave judgment in favour of Adeyiga family. They are to be given 549 plots, but that judgment did not say 549 plots in Magodo. Hence, the Lagos State Government allocated plots for them in Badagry and Ibeju Lekki. So far about 300 of them have agreed to take those plots and these people continue to harass us,” he said.
A resident told PUNCH that his daughter was stranded inside the estate.
“I’m here to pick my daughter and travel to Ekiti but she’s stranded inside. We have spoken to her; we’ve been to the other gate, and we are here also. I don’t know if there are other people inside. But this is not normal,” he said.
Prof Ogunye said the executives will determine when the gates will be open.
The military government had acquired the area for public use. It later sold it to government officials and their cronies, forcing the original owners through Shangisha Landlords Association to approach the High Court for redress.
The High Court in its judgment ordered the state government to give the association and its members 549 plots of land as a matter of priority.
Dissatisfied with the judgment, the government approached the Appeal Court which affirmed the judgment of the lower court on the matter. The matter was taken to the Supreme Court which also upheld the lower courts judgements.