PROPERTY NEWS

ALLEGING foul play, about 120 allotees of lock-up shops at popular Alaba International Market, Ojo Local Government Area, Lagos, are up in arms against Lagos State Government and the council over demolition of their property, without due process.

The property, which sits on about three acres of land within the heart of the populous market, was brought down in the wee hours of Sunday last week.

Speaking to The Guardian on the development at the weekend, occupiers of the property, wondered why the state and council could have pulled down their property as well as destroyed their multi-million naira worth of goods, without any reason whatsoever.

"We have been here since 1980s. We were moved from Kantagoa to this place. While the government gave the land we built the shops by ourselves, and we were paying annual dues to the then Badagry local government."

They said that the development negates the fair principle of the present administration of the state governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola.

Already, they have briefed the chambers of Keyamo to take out a legal action against the state and the council, which they accused of perpetrating the deed.

According to them, there was no issue with either the council or the state on the property. They said there was no time they were served any notice of relocation or demolition.

Directly affected are Obey Ojute, Oliver Okenwa, Theophilus Umeke, Jonathan Umeh, Josephat Okeke, Okoli Simeon, D.C. Nwokwu, Innocent Akaolisa, Simon Nbama, Nnamani Chigozie, Bejamin Nwania, David Nwobodo, Mrs. Christiana Ilo and Mrs. Ogo Ononeze Pat among others.

However, they said that, the council has been having issue with their neighbours, who are trading in planks.

Indeed, the plank dealers under the incorporated trustees of Irepodun Plank Market Association, led by one Alhaji Sadiku Atanda, Pastor Emmanuel Adedeji, Mr. Joshua Adefila and Alhaji Isaika Oladimeji have sued Ojo Local Government and Lagos State Ministry of Environment, seeking two reliefs from an Ikeja High Court.

While the plank dealers said they were served with notice of relocation by the state government, but they are alleging fraudulent act by some state personnel.

Specifically, they want the court to declare that they are entitled to possession and occupation of the parcel of land and a perpetual injunction restraining the defendants and their agents.

But the electronic dealers, whose shops were pulled down said their shops must have been pulled down in error.

For instance, a letter of allocation from the council, dated November 15, 2006, to one of the victims, Josephat Okere, reads in part: "Further to your application and payment of stipulated application fee of N2,000.00 I am pleased to informed you that you have been allocated one open/lock-up/kee-klamp stall size (...m) at the above-named market for the purpose of trading in accordance with Markets Adoptive Bye-Law Order 1962 subject to the following conditions:

That you shall pay the following fees: Allocation fee N5,000 legal fee, N1,500 developmental levy N450, radio & television levy N100., rent (yearly) N250."

The letter also says: "That you shall pay a sum of N ...for the construction of stall(s) within one week from the date of the letter. The Local Government shall charge a fee of N200 for the first three years of allocation to defray the cost of construction after, which they shall be reviewed as deem fit by the Local Government Council.

Further conditions stated "that the stall must not be sub-let by you without the consent of the Local Government. That you shall obey all rules and regulations under the Market Bye-Laws and carry out an order or instructions conductive to the smooth running of the market. That the stall shall not be used for unauthorised purposes. That the local government shall from time to time review stallage and other fees within the markets in the local government."

On revocation right, the allocation letter says: "That the local government reserves the only right to revoke the allocation for the purposes of improvement/development for other overriding public interest. Failure to pay the stallage fee regularly or consecutively for two months, the Council reserves the right to eject you from the stall. If the manner of use of the stall by you is found not to be satisfactory to the Council, if you infringe on any of the provisions of the Markets Adoptive Bye-Laws and Environmental Sanitation Edict of Lagos State, the local government reserves the right to revoke this allocation and eject you from the stall for contravening any of the above conditions."

While claiming not have flouted any of the agreement of allocation, they said it was surprising to see their property destroyed without any information from no quarters.

According to reports, without notice, the shops, which had several millions of naira worth of goods were brought down on Sunday morning, as helpless occupiers looked, while the environment was condoned off by heavily armed mobile policemen, as at the time of demolition exercise, who were led on the mission by one Sergeant Placid Ogujiofor along with official from state Ministry of Environment.

But, Commissioner for Environment, Dr. Muiz Banire, denied knowledge of the demolition exercise.

"No. No. We did not carry out any demolition on that market. I am not aware of any such action. Indeed, Ojo Local Government wrote us about some shanties, which we are still warming up to come and remove."

Banire, however, revealed that, though his ministry got a letter from the council, disclosing that some shanties within the market space may be cleared early next year. He said that his ministry never directed any demolition of any structure.

Ojo Local Government Chairman, Mr. Yinka Durosinmi, who confirmed that a letter sent to the Ministry of Environment, denied any role in the demolition.

According to him, it is possible that, the Ministry of Environment directed the demolition.