Lagos Govt Probes Enforcement Of 48-Year-Old Land Ownership Judgement In Masha

• The crisis started in 1968 when two families were in court over a land dispute.

• In 2022, a judge ratified a 1975 order that conferred the ownership of the land on one of the families.

• The family subsequently moved to execute the court order on Thursday, throwing homeowners into panic.

Eko Hot Blog reports that the Lagos State Government has urged thousands of homeowners within the Masha axis in the Surulere Local Government Area of Lagos, whose properties have been marked for possession by landowners, to remain calm.

The government’s intervention comes days after residents were reportedly thrown into panic as the landowners, in the company of Policemen, stormed the Ikate/Masha area on Thursday, to enforce a November 20, 1975, order of Justice Olusan Bada of the Lagos State High Court.

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Eko Hot Blog gathered that the order was ratified in a ruling by Justice M.A Lawal of the Ikeja Judicial Division of the state High Court on December 9, 2022.

The ruling conferred the ownership of land, measuring 315.9 acres, on the Kasali Idewu family against the Ayisatu Yaya family in a suit initiated in 1968.

Reacting to the situation in a statement on Saturday, the spokesperson of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mrs. Grace Alo, said the government has commenced steps to ensure the protection of people’s rights.

She disclosed that the Office of the Attorney-General is investigating the matter, urging affected residents to remain calm.

“The attention of the Lagos State Government has been drawn to the purported execution of a Court Judgment within the Masha axis in the Surulere Local Government area of Lagos State in which some houses were marked for possession, thereby causing fear and anxiety which may lead to a breach of the peace,” the statement reads.

“As a responsive government, it has become imperative to listen to the yearning of the people and take immediate and appropriate steps to ensure that the rights of the people are well protected.

“Members of the public are hereby notified that the Office of the Honourable Attorney-General is investigating the matter and will take necessary steps to protect the rights of the people of Lagos State.

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“We, therefore, urge members of the public to remain calm and law-abiding and maintain peace and order within the State while necessary steps are being taken in this regard.”

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