The Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja on Friday adjourned the hearing in an application filed by traders at the Owode Onirin Old Motor Spare Parts Market, challenging the demolition of their shops, to March 17.
The traders are asking the court to set aside a ruling delivered on June 20, 2024, which they allege was relied upon to justify the invasion and partial demolition of the market in August 2025.
The applicants, who are members of the Agbajowo Market Association, operate within the Owode Onirin Old Motor Spare Parts Market along Ikorodu Road, Mile 12, Lagos.
They told the court that the market was formally allocated to them by the Lagos State Government in 1979.
Through their counsel, Femi Falana, the traders are also seeking to be joined as parties in the suit. They argued that they were never served with any court processes in the original case instituted by Bolaji Olowu against the Shomolu and Kosofe Local Government Councils, which resulted in a judgment delivered in 1998.
According to the applicants, the court was misled into granting the disputed ruling based on an ex parte application filed by parties to the original suit, without their knowledge or participation.
However, the court noted that the hearing of the joinder application could not proceed because counsel to the judgment creditors, Olabode Oladimeji, failed to pay default fees for the late filing of a counter-affidavit.
In his ruling, Justice Akintunde Savage held that the application was not yet ripe for hearing.
He consequently awarded costs of N25,000 against the judgment creditor in favour of the judgment debtors.
Following the court’s observations, Falana indicated his intention to petition the Chief Judge over the matter.
During the proceedings, the senior advocate also urged the court to remove the photograph of Babajide Sanwo-Olu from the courtroom, describing its presence as intimidating to litigants pursuing cases against the state government.
The matter was adjourned to March 17 for further hearing.
Lagos court adjourns hearing on Owode Onirin traders’ suit over shop demolition
