The popular 23 Road Market in Festac Town, also known as the Oyinlola Market which was demolished has both parties still on the case in court.
The Olorunda Oyinlola Market Association of Festac Town, Lagos has accused the Amuwo Odofin Local Government (LGA) and its executive chairman Valentine Buraimoh of disobeying an Ikeja High Court order restraining them from further action on the destroyed market premises.
According to the traders, Justice Sendoten Ogunsanya on January 25, 2021, ordered parties in suit ID/9827/LMW/2020 to maintain the status quo pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice for Interlocutory Injunction by the traders.
Speaking through their lawyer, Mr Adesina Ogunlana, they told The Nation News that the order followed the LGA’s demolition of the market on December 12 2020 – despite the pendency of the suit – destroying goods worth over N25billion and reducing the 15 acres of property to rubble.
Adesina said:
“Even before the demolition of the market took place, the Market Association had approached the court for intervention and succour in Suit: ID/9827/LMW/2020. This case is before the Ikeja High Court per Hon. Justice Ogunsanya.
“On January 25th, 2021, the Honourable Court granted an order directing all parties involved to maintain status quo, as at things stood on that very day, which was just a situation that the 1st Defendant, the Amuwo Odofin Local Government had destroyed the N25 billion market but had not commenced development.
“When this order was made, the claimants were happy trusting that the Defendants would be obedient to the court order. Alas, the opposite was the case. Since that day the 1st Defendant started building furiously on the market…”
According to him, despite all the warnings of the court, that the 1st Defendant should stop further construction on the Olorunda Oyinlola Market, the Amuwo Odofin Local Government led by Mr Valentine Buraimoh deliberately ignored the order and have continued building there furiously, day and night…
But the Amuwo Odofin Local Government’s counsel, Mr D.F. Ogunmade denied the allegations, saying that the traders were being “economical with the truth.”
He said there was no court order restraining the LGA or its chairman from building on the land and challenged the traders to produce the order, adding that “they were just going about maligning my client’s name.”
Ogunmade further stated that following a complaint by the traders, Mr Buraimoh had honored the police invitation to explain recent developments.
Source: The Nation