A Lagos school proprietor, Paulin Eboagwu and her husband, Daniel Eboagwu have initiated a lawsuit against Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and six other defendants, seeking N11 billion.
The lawsuit, referenced as No LD/15612LMW/2024 and dated July 16, 2024, was submitted through their attorney, Babatunde Ademoyo. The Eboagwus assert that the land in question was officially delineated under Survey Plan No.KCO/902/006B (613/2018/LA) with the governor's approval.
The defendants include the state Attorney General, the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, as well as Sterling Oil and its affiliate, Chronodexia Investment Nigeria Ltd, among others.
According to court documents, the claimants purchased the land from Elegushi Property and Investment Company Limited. They allege that the Indian company attempted to claim part of this land, arguing that it was included in a prior sale by Shell Cooperative Multipurpose Society.
The Eboagwus claim that the fifth and sixth defendants sought to obstruct their building permit by prompting the third and fourth defendants to issue a Notice of Contravention, questioning their ownership and regulatory compliance.
Ademoyo elaborated that following intervention from Oba Shaheed Elegushi and communication from Elegushi’s attorney, all necessary title documents and approvals were submitted to the relevant authorities. Subsequently, the third defendant issued a notice permitting construction to proceed.
Despite fulfilling all regulatory requirements, the claimants allege that officials from the third and fourth defendants, accompanied by approximately 300 armed individuals, violently demolished their property.
The claimants describe the demolished structure as a three-story school complex covering an area of 1,580 square meters and they are requesting N1 billion in general damages for emotional distress caused by the demolition and N10 billion for losses incurred due to the alleged illegal actions of the defendants.
