How it all started…
Until early March, not many people including those resident in Lagos had ever heard of Otodo-Gbame, a sleepy fishing community outside Lekki that is quite easy to miss.
However, it has been thrust into the centre of the news since then following three demolitions by the Lagos State Government, resulting in thousands displaced and up to ten people dead.
In October 2016, the Lagos State Government made public its plan to demolish what it termed as ‘shanties’ along creeks and waterways in the state, citing the growing cases of kidnapping and other criminal activities in the communities.
However, worried by the prospect of up to 300,000 people being rendered homeless, a community-based group called Incorporated Trustees of Community Legal Support Initiative and 35 occupants of various waterfront communities sought a court injunction preventing the government from carrying out its action.
The plaintiffs had their prayers granted by a Lagos State High Court which restrained the state government from going ahead with the demolition. However, the court order fell on deaf ears as two days later, government-owned bulldozers rolled into Otodo-Gbame supported by armed police officers who shot sporadically into the air. The ensuing confusion ended with at least seven people dead, and prompted the United Nations Rapporteur on Adequate Housing to demand an explanation from the state and federal governments for the evictions.
A further court judgment on January 26 by the Lagos State High Court issued a ruling finding that demolitions on short notice without providing alternative shelter for persons evicted constitutes cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of Section 34 of the 1999 Constitution, and ordered the parties to attempt mediation through the Lagos State Multi-Door Court House.
Condemnations trail demolition…
Amnesty International and other notable organisations locally and internationally condemned the demolition. Social media was also awashed with ‘knocks’ for the Ambode led Lagos State Government over the demolition.
Demolition in public interest – LASG
However, following the backlash that greeted the demolition, the Lagos State Government explained that it was done in the interest of the public.
In a statement signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, government said the state’s Ministry of Environment’s action was to forestall an environmental disaster and another round of deadly skirmishes that led to the razing of the Otodo Gbame community in November 2016.
Ayorinde, added that the action was informed by the overriding public interest to ensure that the waterfront area is free from environmentally injurious and unsanitary habitation few months after it was consumed by fire and rendered uninhabitable.
The government however, denied flouting any court judgment as alleged, insisting that it owes a duty to the larger population of the state to ensure that public health and safety is maintained.
The Otodo Gbame community is one of the 39 claimant communities that had commenced action to enforce their fundamental rights pursuant to Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009 before Onigbanjo. J of Lagos Division of the High Court of Lagos State in Suit No. LD/4232MFHR/2016..AKAKPO and 38 ORS vs. AG L/S and 3 ORS.
Victory at last…
However, respite came the way of the displaced victims of the Otodo Gbame community as Justice Surajudeen Onigbanjo of the Lagos State High Court, Igbosere, on Wednesday ruled in their favour.
The judge released his verdict on June 21, 2017, ruling the evictions as unconstitutional, saying it violates the rights of the residents, especially as it happened without consultation or a resettlement plan in place.
He also ordered the state government to cease further evictions.
The suit was brought last year by 33 applicants suing on behalf of themselves and other residents of settlements including OtodoGbame, Tomaro, Otumara, Orisunmibare, Oko Agbon, Itun Atan, Sogunro, the Ikorodu communities of Ofin, Bayeku, Olufunke Majidun and the Bariga communities of Ago Egun and Ebute-Ilaje.
The communities are challenging the demolition of their waterfront settlement by the state government, a decision that has been condemned by local and international right groups.