Magodo dispute: LASG, stakeholders, resolve processes for land allocation to 549 Judgment Creditors
By Moses Adeniyi
Following stakeholders meeting convened by the Lagos State Government (LASG) on the Magodo Shangisha dispute, the parties on Wednesday have reached resolution on the way forward to effect the allocation of land to the 549 Judgment Creditors affected in the dispute.
It would be recalled that the dispute took a showdown on Tuesday following Police encroachment on the Estate and a demonstration by residents to protest the action.
An unscheduled visit of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to restore normalcy to the Estate had attracted concern when a Chief Superintendent of Police, impudently disregarded the Governor’s order to vacate the Magodo Phase 2 Estate premises.
The CSP had claimed that they were in the Estate on the instruction of the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba Alkali, through the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) Abubakar Malami (SAN) and has not been directed to leave.
Following the showdown, Governor Sanwo-Olu had on Tuesday promised to meet with the stakeholders in a bid to reach peaceful resolution on the lingering dispute over the enforcement of the Judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on the 10th of February 2012 in suit no. SC/112/2002.
At the meeting chaired by Governor Sanwo-Olu, at the State House, Ikeja, on Wednesday with the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association), their lawyers, Commissioner of Police Lagos State Command, Policemen from the F.C.T Command and Police Headquarters, the Executive and Trustees of the Magodo Residents’ Association and senior Government Officials, the enforcement of the Supreme Court Judgment in question was deliberated upon and resolutions reached.
A statement signed by the State’s Commissioner for Information and strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, revealed processes through which the allocation of land in relation to enforcing the judgement would be effected.
As contained in the statement it was resolved that: “That the Committee set up by the State Government to resolve the Magodo dispute, chaired by the Hon. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, is to meet with the Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association) on Friday 7th of January 2022.
“The Surveyor-General of Lagos State, Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau and Hon. Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development are to immediately identify available plots of land within the Shangisha village scheme.
“The Committee is also to identify how the available plots of land are to be accessed and whether any infrastructural development is necessary to access the land.
“Upon identification of available and accessible land, the State Government is to immediately allocate the land to the 549 Judgment Creditors.
“In the event that there is no available and accessible land within the Shangisha village scheme to allocate to all the 549 Judgment Creditors, the State Government, in agreement with the Judgment Creditors, will provide alternative plots of land.
“Whilst this exercise is ongoing, the Nigeria Police are to restrain themselves from any conduct or action that may instigate violence or breakdown of law and order in Magodo. They should be keepers of peace and act within the confines of the law – always. All the parties have agreed to an amicable resolution of the matter.”
The statement mentioned that the meeting ended with the Governor thanking all for attending and restating his resolve to ensure that peace returns to Magodo and that there is justice for all.
“The attendees praised the Governor for showing ‘good leadership,’ which they said prevented violence in the estate. Besides, they expressed confidence in the Governor’s ability and sincerity to resolve the matter,” the statement said.
