STALEMATE ON SETTLEMENT OF SUPREME COURT JUDGEMENT ON SHANGISHA/MAGODO…… LAGOS STATE GOVT GOES BACK TO SUPREME COURT

Two issues are holding the Lagos State Government from complying with the judgement of the Supreme Court that allocations in the Magodo Scheme should be given to 549 landowners whose plots were acquired by the LASG. According to a release signed by Gbenga Omotoso the Honourable Commissioner for Information & Strategy , “Following the intervention of Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, officials of the State Government and representatives of the Shangisha Landlords Association (the judgment creditors) held a series of meetings at which both parties explored the possibility of complying with the judgment of the Supreme Court. At the said meetings two issues arose: · There was a serious division among the

judgment creditors as to who controlled or had the right to represent the Association; and

· the demand by the judgment creditors that a single global Certificate of Occupancy should be issued in the name of the Association as opposed to the position of the State Government that each of the 549 members of the Association would be given allotment letters individually.

Given the sharp divide between the two factions of the judgment creditors on who has authority to represent the Association and the disagreement regarding whom the Certificate of Occupancy should be issued (collectively or individually), the State Government has approached the Supreme Court to seek further directives and clarifications on both issues. The Judgment Creditors have been served with the application.”

Perhaps mindful that this may be construed as delay tactics, the release went on to state that “The State Government, however, wishes to reiterate its commitment to complying with the judgment of the Supreme Court once these two issues are resolved.”