By Steve Agbota

A limited liability company, AJ Missri & Company Limited, has accused the Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency (LASURA), of unlawful acquisition of its landed property situated at 23, Breadfruit Street, Lagos Island.
The property, a large bungalow with over 25 shops occupied by traders and tenants to the company, was built over 30 years ago.
Speaking with newsmen, the Managing Director of the company, Eze Edozie Okafor, said he has a Land Certificate issued by the Lagos State government, which was registered as LO2059 at the Lands Registry, Alausa. He stated that the Lagos State agency was aware of the fact that the company has legal title to the property.
He added: “In accordance with due process of this regime, any property’s owner found guilty of running foul of the government urban renewal laws/policies must be duly served with eviction notice before any action could be taken on such property. But it is unfortunate that there was no notice of such duly signed, either by the Lagos State government or any of its appointed agencies charged with such responsibility.”
He explained: “Despite this acknowledgement, the officials of LASURA on Thursday, June 8, 2017 suddenly swooped on the property with miscreants and demolished the property and erected a sign board claiming that the property belongs to the Lagos State government. Even our title was not revoked by the Lagos State Governor before this act of appropriation of the property. Similarly the agency did not obtain an order of court to carry out the demolition and attempt to forcefully acquire it as its property,” he explained.
He said the company has petitioned the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development and the General Manager of Lagos State Urban Renewal Agency. He therefore called on Governor Ambode to wade into the matter and ensure that the injustice being done to the company is rectified even as he believes that the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development might be unaware of the activities of the Urban Renewal Agency and its officials on the matter.

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