By Christopher Oji
The Lagos High Court of Justice, Ajah Division, sitting in Badore and presided over by Justice Ganiu Aliu Safari, has granted an injunction restraining the execution of the judgment on the large expanse of land in Eyin Osa, Epe community, in the Free Trade Zone in the state.
The judge also ordered the respondents, who are the judgment creditors, the Ottun family and the Lagos State Government, to maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the suit at the Appeal Court of Justice.
Justice Safari had, earlier in 2023, in a matter with the suit number LD/8916/2014, between Moshood Olushola Ottun, one other and Governor of Lagos State and three others, set aside a Certificate of Occupancy number 33/33/2022F, dated 17/12/2021, issued by the Lagos State Government.
Not satisfied with the judgment of the lower court, the Lagos State Government approached the Court of Appeal, where the case is still pending, to upturn the decision of the lower court.
The state government went further to return to the Lagos High Court of Justice, sitting in Badore and presided over by Justice Safari, for an injunction, pending the appeal, to restrain the claimants and respondents from enforcing, implementing or taking any further step or giving any effect to the judgment of the court delivered on December 14, 2023, “between the parties herein until final determination of the appeal.”
The state government also asked for “an order that the parties in the suit maintain the status quo, pending the determination of the appeal filed by the defendants/applicants.” and “for such further order(s) as the court may deem fit to make in the circumstances.”
Justice Safari granted the application for an order of injunction “restraining the claimant/respondents from enforcing, implementing or taking any further step or giving any effect to the judgment of this Honourable Court delivered on the 14th of December, 2023, between the parties herein, pending the final determination of the appeal filed by the defendants/applicants in this suit.”
“It is hereby ordered that the parties in this suit maintain the status quo existing before the judgment of this court delivered on 14th December, 2023, pending the determination of the appeal filed by the defendants/applicants in this suit,” the judge said.
The Eyin Osa Resettlement Committee, while speaking on the ruling by the high court judge, said, “We hereby urge the general public to stop all transactions with the Ottun family regarding any sale, lease or alienation of interest on the said land at Eyin Osa, Epe Local Government, Lagos State, based on the said judgment, which cannot be given any effect until the hearing and determination of the appeal.”
The committee also insisted that, “The Ottun family cannot convey, assign and/transfer title to any third party in view of the order of injunction against the said judgment.
“The Certificate of Occupancy No. 33/33/2022F, dated 17/12/2021, granted by the Lagos State Government to the Eyin Osa Zone of the Resettlement Committee, in respect of the property lying, being and situated at Eyin Osa and covered by Survey Plan No. LS/D/BK425/D&E, is thus still valid, extant and subsisting.”