Demolition: Community protests delay of letter of summons to defendants

 

 

•Some members of the community protesting at Badagry High Court yesterday

 

 

Residents of Candid Estate, Araromi Ale, in Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos State, whose properties were demolished by suspected land grabbers on December 8, 2023, have cried out over continued delayed of letter of invitation issued by  Justice Ogundare of the High Court in  Badagry through the Sheriff of the court.

In a peaceful protest at the court premises after the case was adjourned to July 8, the residents, who spoke through the Chairman, Land Committee, Captain  Nelson Cliphine, accused the police of complicity in the delay of the letter of summons to two of the defendants in the matter.

Captain Nelson said after the demolition of buildings  in the community, the residents, through their lawyer, Barrister Adesina Ogunyale, had approached the Badagry court to seek justice. After the letter of summons was issued to the defendants, two out of those who allegedly led the demolition exercise went underground, making it difficult for the court’s sheriff  to serve them the letter.

“Following a series of adjournments, Barrister Ogunyale filed a motion seeking the approval of the court to serve the two defendants by pasting with assistance of armed policemen from Ajah police station, which was granted by Justice Ogundare.

“Since then, it has become a case of cat and mouse game as the DPO at the Ajah police station directed our lawyer to write the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, and he complied.

The lawyer was, again, referred to Zone 2, where he was, again, referred back to the CP and, thereafter, told that the Deputy Sheriff, Lagos State has to be involved. We strongly  suspect that police and the sheriff are trying to frustrate our case,” he lamented.

Chairman of the community, Mr Lawal Aremu, said over four months since the prayer was granted, the sheriff was yet to serve the letter on the first and second defendants.

“We, hereby, call on the police to comply with the rulings of the Badagry High Court, that the invitation  be done by pasting with the assistance from armed policemen from Ajah police station,” he said.