A Lagos based company, Mistykay Ventures Limited, has sued the state government for trespass and physically sealing off one of its gates at 892c, Admiral Oduwaiye street, Omole Phase II Estate, Ikeja thereby depriving it direct access to its property through the estate.
Managing Director of the Company, David Adegbite, in a suit filed at the Ikeja High Court, claimed that on August 23 2017, some members of the New Towns Development Authority, on the orders of the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, sealed up the property gate at Plot 892c, Admiral Oduwaiye street, Omole Phase II Estate without any formal notice to the occupants.
He alleged that apart from placing a Sealing Notice on the gate, the officials (with the backing of key members of the Omole Phase II Estate Community Development Association) blocked off the entrance to the property by erecting a brick wall thereby cutting off its access to Omole Phase II Estate.
Counsel to the firm, Ayodeji Acquah stated that the property was developed with valid permit and approval from the Lagos state Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development with two entrances via a gate that abuts the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway and another gate via Admiral Oduwaiye street in Omole Phase II Estate.
The lawyer added that in April 2017, representatives of the firm had a meeting with one Mr. Aliu, a Director of Physical Planning at the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development to explain and show approvals/ permits for having 2 entrances into the property.
However, on August 22 2017, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, some staff of New Towns Development Authority and some key members of the Omole Phase II Estate Community Development Association visited the firm’s premises and demanded for the original copies of the building approvals.
The lawyer said petitions were sent to the Lagos State Attorney General, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development to resolve the matter, to no avail.
He added that several attempts made by representatives of the firm to discuss with the relevant officials in the Physical Planning and Urban Development ministry and its related agencies as well as discussions with Trustees of the Omole Phase II Estate Community Development Association did not yield any positive result, a development which eventually led to the Physical sealing of the gate which provided access to Omole Phase II.
Efforts to reach relevant government officials at the Lagos State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development as well as officials of Omole Phase II Estate Community Development Association has not yielded result as at press time.