Court dismisses lawsuit against Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road

…transfers case to State High Court

The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to halt the construction of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, citing lack of jurisdiction.

The suit was filed by some indigenes of the Okun-Ajah community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area, Lagos State, alongside other affected property owners.

The plaintiffs, including Chief Saheed Olukosi (Akogun of Okun-Ajah), Noibi Issa Afolayan, Yussuf Odunuga Sulaiman, Olufemi Fasehun, and Adeola Tokunbo, alleged that the project encroached on their land.

Listed as defendants in the case were 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 Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority; the General Manager of Lagos State Building Control Agency; and Hitech Construction Limited.

The plaintiffs sought a court order to halt the project, set aside its plans, and demanded compensation for alleged trespassing. However, the defendants challenged the suit, arguing that the Federal High Court lacked the authority to hear the matter.

Ruling on the case, Justice Akintayo Aluko upheld the defendants’ objections and determined that the case fell outside the court’s jurisdiction.

Instead of striking it out, he invoked Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act to transfer the case to the Lagos State High Court, which he deemed the appropriate venue for the dispute.

With this decision, the legal battle over the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project will now proceed at the Lagos State High Court.