Residents of Banana Island, Lagos, have voiced their frustration over the disregard for a court order that prohibits the demolition of the estate’s Boat Club House by the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development.
On March 18, Justice Chukwujekwu Aneke of the Federal High Court in Lagos issued an injunction restraining the ministry, its agents, servants, and privies from demolishing the Boat Club House located at OT QC. The ministry had planned the demolition to make way for the construction of an access road to the proposed Apple Island estate.
The court’s ruling followed a lawsuit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of Banana Island Property Owners/Residents Association against the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and the ministry itself. The plaintiffs had sought to prevent the demolition, and after reviewing the case, the court issued an order to halt any actions concerning the property, pending the outcome of the motion on notice.
The court also issued an interim order, ensuring that the status quo regarding the Boat Club House, as it stood when the case was filed, would be maintained. This order applied to all parties involved until the case was fully heard.
Despite the court’s clear injunction, residents were alarmed when officials from the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development arrived early Tuesday morning to attempt the demolition. A resident, who wished to remain anonymous, described the situation as “harassment and intimidation,” expressing disbelief that the court order was being ignored by government officials.
“This matter is in court, and there is an interim injunction, yet they still came in large numbers to carry out the demolition. What does this say about respecting court decisions?” the resident questioned.
In response, the estate management took swift action to prevent further escalation, blocking the estate’s entrance to restrict entry and exit for several hours. This caused a major traffic disruption around the estate, with many residents and visitors resorting to walking from the Gerard Road axis to reach the estate.
A letter from the Banana Island Property Owners & Residents Association (BIPORAL) circulated among residents confirmed the presence of government officials on-site for the attempted demolition. The letter stated: “Dear residents, officials from the Federal Ministry of Housing are currently in the estate and are in the process of demolishing the clubhouse building. We are monitoring the situation closely and will provide further updates shortly.”
The situation remains tense as residents and the estate management await further developments on the legal proceedings.
