Lagos petitioned by Yaba Community

Dwellers on Yeye Street, Iwaya in the Yaba area of Lagos State have petitioned the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola, the state’s House of Assembly and the ministry of justice, among others on the alleged blockade of the street by one Alhaji Wahab Adamson

It was learnt that Adamson fenced the area after a court ruling which vested on him the ownership of a parcel of land on Pedro Street that connects Yeye.

The judgement, which was delivered by a Justice of the state High Court, Mrs. E.O. Williams-Dawodu, on February 7, 2014, restrained the claimants identified as Alhaji Salam Aduagba, Mr. Albert Williams, Mr. Babatunde Williams, Mr. Yeye, Mr. Bodi and Mr. Ngbeji, from “disturbing construction or development of the property” and peaceful possession by Adamson.

According to PUNCH, the residents had, through the Chairman of the community development association, Mr. Femi Agemo, petitioned Fashola on September 16, 2014, to intervene in the erection of the walls.

The petition read in part, “Alhaji Adamson Wahab is currently erecting walls to close the access street that links Yeye, Odo-Ogbe, Ogo-Oluwa, Adengbero streets and Ogbe Close. About 25 houses on Yeye Street have been affected.”

In another petition dated January 13, 2015, and addressed to the Directorate of Citizen’s Right, Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the residents said the blockade had inflicted hardship on them such as the inability to clear blocked drainage channels. They added that business activities in the area had been grounded.

When our correspondent visited the area, he saw an order by the state government dated September 22, 2014, ordering that the wall be demolished immediately.

It stated, “Remove Now! Order by LASG.”

However, a number said to be the approved building plan of the land was also written on the wall as “OCB2921/49.”

A landlord, Mr. Ladi Williams, said the community elders had pleaded with Adamson, who claimed to have bought the land from one late Mrs. Lamulatu Ayoka in 1956, to give some distance from the land to ensure vehicular and human movement.

He said, “This street was approved during the administration of Lateef Jakande. In 1992, Alhaji Adamson told the landlords that he had bought the land. They told him it is a road and he could not claim the whole part. The matter was taken to court in 1993.

“In February 2014, he said he had won the case and started building the fence. We reported at the Sabo Police Station and petitioned the state government, but we have not seen any meaningful result.”

A resident, Mr. Kayode Ngbeji, said the judgement was at the expense of public good and urged the government to intervene.

He said, “We will appeal the judgement. Somebody must have misled the court. It is a community issue and naturally, where public interest clashes with personal interest, the latter submits.”

Physically-challenged Oluwaseun Akinde, who lives on Yeye Street, lamented that he had difficulties passing through the staircase on the alternative route they used.

He said, “Whenever I am going out, I have to wait for a passerby to assist me in climbing the staircase.”

When contacted at his house on Iwaya road, Adamson declined to comment on the matter.

He added, “The court has passed the judgement in my favour. That shows it is my property and I have right over it.”

The spokesperson Lagos State Building Control Agency, Mr. Lukman Ajayi, urged the lodgers to re-petition the governor, copying the commissioner for physical planning and the general manager, LASBCA.

“We will act within one week after this is done,” he added.

This item originally appeared on PUNCH news