Justice Akintayo Aluko of the Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a lawsuit challenging the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project.
The suit was filed by indigenes of the Okun-Ajah community and concerned property owners in the Okun-Ajah area of Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State.
In his ruling, Justice Aluko stated that the suit, marked FHC/L/CS/1488/2024, lacked jurisdiction and therefore could not be heard at the Federal High Court.
As a result, the case was transferred to the Lagos State High Court, which he deemed the appropriate forum for the matter.
The plaintiffs in the case include Chief Saheed Olukosi (Akogun of Okun-Ajah Community), Noibi Issa Afolayan, Yussuf Odunuga Sulaiman, Olufemi Fasehun, and Adeola Tokunbo, who represent the Okun-Ajah community and other concerned property owners in the area.
The defendants in the case include the Minister of Works, Dr. Dave Umahi; Olukorede Keisha; the Federal Ministry of Works & Housing; the Attorney-General of Lagos State; the Commissioner for Waterfront Infrastructure Development; the Surveyor-General of Lagos State; the General Manager of the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority; the General Manager of the Lagos State Building Control Agency; and Hitech Construction Limited.
Through their lawyers, A.O. Ajiboye and E.C. Okorie, the plaintiffs had sought to stop the project, citing several reasons, including an order restraining the defendants from trespassing or diverting the road construction onto their land. They also sought damages for alleged trespassing on the disputed land.
However, the defendants objected to the suit, arguing that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, leading to the court’s ruling in favor of transferring the matter to the Lagos State High Court.
