In
a bid to stop the proposed demolition of his church, The President of
the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) Pastor Ayo Orisejafor 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.
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
Source: PMNEWSNIGERIA.COM
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