LAGOS CP RE-ARRAIGNS FIVE FOR ALLEGEDLY CAUSING VIOLENCE IN LADIPO MARKET

accused persons also stole wines, set of gold jewellery and other valuables valued N358,500 and the sum of N785,000 all totaling N1,143,500, property of Tolulope Obi, and conducted themselves in a manner likely to cause the breach of the peace of Ladipo Market, Mushin by making bloodletting the order of the day. Further hearing has been fixed for June 29. Meanwhile, a group of human rights lawyers had also written a petition to the Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, demanding that the Central Executive Auto Dealer Association of Ladipo Market, be disbanded with immediate effect, in order for peace to return to the spare parts market.

The petition, which was signed by Mr. Debo Adeleke Esq., also suggests that a caretaker committee should be inaugurated, to fill in for the executives that will be representatives of all concerned parties and stakeholders, which will be headed by a neutral government appointee till sanity is restored to Ladipo market and its environ.

Buttressing its points, the petition states that the present executives of Ladipo market have constituted themselves into lawless people, who, on different occasions thwarted attempts made by Owoyemi Motors & Finance Co. Ltd., to execute various judgements of different courts, and prevented the judgement creditor from reaping the fruits of the judgements. This they did, by staging illegal protest and causing trouble.

“Sir we wish to state here categorically and unequivocally too, that it was during this unlawful and illegal protest in the evening of that day of execution, that a lot of people were seriously injured and one person was recorded dead.

"Sir, one might wonder why these people resulted into this act of brigandage and violence against a lawful execution of the court’s judgement”, adding that they had to weave a trumped-up charge against Monday Lawrence, accusing him for being responsible for the killing of the deceased.

“We make bold to say that our said client, Monday Lawrence was never connected in any form, way or manner with the alleged murder case currently before Justice Taiwo of the Lagos High Court, Lagos” the petition stressed.

“Monday Lawrence is the accredited and bona fide Revenue Collector for Mushin Local Government Council in Ladipo Market, hence putting him out of circulation, will make Ladipo Central Executive Auto Dealer Association take over his duty, which they have been contesting with him for a long period.

“As soon as our Client was kept in protective custody, they started collecting the Mushin Local Government Revenue, without remitting same to the relevant authority. Thus, they were illegally protesting the granting of our client’s bail by Lagos High Court.

“Monday Lawrence and his friend, Onyekachi were the beneficiaries of part of Owoyemi Motors & Finance Co. Ltd property at Ladipo Spare Parts Market. This was based on a mutual agreement and understanding between Owoyemi Motors & Finance Co. Ltd and Lagos State House of Assembly, where Owoyemi Motors & Finance Co. Ltd assigned 60 percent of part of their property at Ladipo Market to Mushin Local Government and Mushin Local Government leased same to Monday Lawrence and Onyekachi to develop same.

“This did not go down well with the so-called Executives of the Association, who said that such a transaction ought to have been handled by them and not by Monday Lawrence and Onyekachi.

“Right now, our client and his friend, Onyekachi have successfully completed over 2000 modern lock-up shops with modern equipment and accessories”, the petition said.