In a bid to stop the proposed demolition of his church, The
President of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor
has dragged Lagos state Government and six others before a Lagos High Court.
Joined as co-respondents in the suit are the Lagos state
governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN), the state’s Attorney-General, Lagos
state Ministry of Physical planning and Urban Development, Lagos state Building
Control Agency, Lagos state Physical Planning Permit Authority, and Lagos state
Task force on Environmental Sanitation, PM News reports.
The Incorporated Trustees of Word of Life Bible Church, the
claimant is urging the court for an order restraining the defendants their
agents, servants, officers or privies from demolishing or further demolishing,
destroying, or forcibly ejecting them. The claimant urged the court that they
should not continue to take steps or in any other manner engage in any
activity(ies) detrimental or contrary to the rights of the ownership or
possession of the claimant in respect of the claimants land located at Plot 21E,
Abdulrahman Okene Close, Off Ligali Ayorinde Street Victoria Island, Annex
Lagos.
The claimants in an affidavit filed before the court averred
that after applying for building plan approval from the respondents and it was
not forthcoming within the regulated period the claimants through Pastor
Oritsejafor made due enquires, wrote several letters, and also held meetings
with the former governor of the state, Senator Bola Tinubu and the present
governor of Lagos state Babatunde Fashola.
Consequently, in March 2013, the claimant received a letter
from the defendants directing them to submit certain documents to facilitate
the process of the approval of the building plan which it was complied with.
However, while the claimant was still awaiting the building
plan approval so as to continue with its Church building the claimant suddenly
discovered that the defendants had pasted a certain contravention notice dated
January 20, 2014 on its fence, alleging absence of development permit, as
ground of seeking removal of the building on the land within two days.
The defendants, in their counter-affidavit alleged that the
action of the claimants of not complying with rules and regulations generated
the its supposed action.
They also alleged that the claimant commenced the erection
of the structure on the said property without first obtaining a development
permit. It was stated further that though, the claimant had applied for the
permit, but it did not wait for the approval, rather it continued with the
construction of the building.
The defendants further added that the claimant has also not
provided all that was required to process its development permit.
At the resumed hearing of the matter on today counsel to the
church, Mr.A‚ Ndu Nwokocha, ask the court for an adjournment to enable him to
respond to the defendants’ counter affidavit served on him at the court.
Thereafter, the presiding judge, Deborah Oluwayemi, after
listening to both parties, adjourned the matter to January 13, for hearing.
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