Osborn Road Residents Want Court to Jail Lekki Garden Boss

Wale Igbintade

The Registered Trustees of Osborne and Foreshore Residents Association, Lagos, have initiated a contempt proceeding before the Federal High Court, Ikoyi, Lagos, praying the court to commit to prison the Chief Executive Officer of Lekki Gardens Estate Limited, Mr. Richard Nyong.

The trustees, in a committal application filed by their lawyer, Mr. Kemi Pinheiro (SAN), are also asking the court to jail the Project Manager of the construction firm, Kehinde Dawodu, for allegedly flouting the ‘stop work’ order issued by the court.

Also sued alongside Nyong and Dawodu are the National Environmental Standard and Regulations Enforcement Agency; Lekki Gardens Estate Limited; Foreshore Waters Limited, and Lagos State Physical Permit Authority.

Justice Nicholas Oweibo had on July 9, 2021, granted an interim injunction restraining Lekki Gardens Estate Limited and Foreshore Waters Limited from carrying out any further construction, development or building activities in Osborne Foreshore Estate II, Ikoyi, Lagos.

Nonetheless, in the affidavit attached to the application, the residents claimed that the two alleged contemnors have disregarded the order of the court, and continued to work on the site.

The trustees also prayed the court for an order cordoning off the estate of Nyong and Dawodu, known and situated at Block II Plot 2, Plot 7; Block Plot 5 Block 6, Plot 17 Block 9, Block 9 Plot 23, Block 9 Plot 17, Block 10 Plots 1A, 1,1C, Block 6 Plot 19, Block 6 Plot 12, Plot 9A, Block 6 Plot 14, and Block 11 Plot 2.

Others are Signature One on Royal Palm Drive; Signature two, Le Chateau, Insigma and Foreshore Towers on Acacia road, within the estate, in disobedience to the order of the court.

Specifically, they prayed the court for an order directing the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) Zone 2 Command to immediately arrest, detain and produce before the court, any contractor and or worker, save for security personnel, found on the property being developed by both Nyong and Dawodu within the estate or any other property currently being developed by the respondents within Osborne Foreshore Estate II in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The trustees in an affidavit deposed to by an the Admin Manager of the Osborne Foreshore Phase II Residents’ Association, Ifeoma Maduakor, averred that on July 9, 2021, Justice Nicholas Oweibo granted the interim orders restraining Lekki Gardens Estate Limited and Foreshore Waters Limited from further developments on their sites within the estate, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.

However, at the resumed hearing of the matter yesterday, all the defendants, through their lawyer, Mr. T. Oshobi (SAN), challenged the interim order issued by the court.

Justice Oweibo, after taking arguments from parties in the matter, adjourned till August 10 for ruling.