Tears for Otodogbame Community Members Whose Houses were Demolished as Court Rules Against Them

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has had a court case instituted against him by Otodogbame Community members whose houses he is demolishing, struck out.  

Justice S. A. Onigbangbo of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, has struck out contempt proceedings against the Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode brought against him by Otodogbame community members whose houses were demolished, stating that “the court lacks the jurisdiction to charge the governor of the state because of the immunity he enjoys.”

This means that the eviction ordered by Ambode against the community will now proceed without hindrance as thousands of the community members will be forced out of their homes. 

The judge further said that “if the governor had truly ordered the forceful eviction and demolition of the second applicant, he undermined the principles of the rule of law and the same process which put him in office in the first place.”

Adeola Opeyemi, an eyewitness who was at the scene of the demolition earlier in the week, said residents of Otodo-Gbame (a Lagos slum) had to sleep in their canoes in the middle of the river, while watching security officials set fire to their homes. Lagos state government reportedly ordered the shooting at sight of anyone who attempts to dock on ground.