Witness narrates how Ex-HoS, allies diverted public funds to private companies in court
Lagos lawmaker, Rotimi Olowo stopped by court From Building petrol Station in residential area
By Dayo Badmus,
A Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja has ordered a lawmaker, Emmanuel Rotimi Olowo (Shomolu Constituency 1), and four others to stop the construction of a petrol and gas filling station in a residential area in Ketu.
the step has been take until the hearing and determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction is determined.
Justice Lateef Akapo made the restraining order after the landlords and the residents of Irawo Osan, Omotayo Close and Idowu Layemo Crescent, Ketu, filed a motion on notice for interlocutory injunction before the court against the defendants.
Other defendants in the suit are Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Attorney General of Lagos State and Department of Petroleum Resources.
The claimants who are Mrs Adepeju Omotayo, Rev Kayode Abraham, Engineer Adebisi Ladipo, Alhaji Atoyebi Akande, Col. Olowokande, Mrs Iyabo Idowu, Mr Kola Onasanya, Mr Adeboye Akano, Mrs Ebun Akinya, Mr Gbenga Omolayo and Mr Lateef Adeoye, for themselves and on behalf of other aggrieved Landlords and residents of Irawo Osan, Omotayo Close and Idowu Layemo Crescent, Ketu area of Lagos.
The claimants in their motion of notice dated September 10, 2021, in suit NO ID/8130GCMW/2, are seeking for an order of interim injunction, restraining the defendants/ respondent particularly the first defendant, their agents, officers, privies assigns or any other person authorized by them from taking any steps or further steps in the development and construction of Petrol and Gas Filling Station at 2, Irawo Osan Street, off Demurin Street, Ketu Lagos State, pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
They are also asking for an order of interim injunction restraining the 5th defendant/ respondent, its agents, officers, privies, assigns, or any other person authorized by it from issuing storage and sales license (s) and or permitting to sell, supply and distribute petroleum products, including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or any other Petroleum product meant to be sold at a licensed Petrol Station to the 1st defendant agents, officers, privies, assigns, or any other person authorized by him at 2, Irawo Osan Street, off Demurin Street, Ketu Lagos State, pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction before the court.
An order of interim injunction restraining the 1st defendant / respondent his agents, officers, privies, assigns, or any other person authorized by him from selling, supplying and distributing petroleum products including Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) also known as Petrol, Diesel, Kerosene and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) or any other Petroleum product meant to be sold at a licensed Petrol Station to the 1st defendant agents, officers, privies, assigns, or any other person authorized by him at 2, Irawo Osan Street, off Demurin Street, Ketu Lagos State, pending the determination of the motion on notice for interlocutory injunction before the court.
The claimants in their affidavit of urgency in support of their motion on notice, deposed by Mrs Adepeju Omotayo, a legal practitioner, stated that sometimes in May 2019, were woken up at about 12:am by an unusual loud noisy sound which caused panic and forced every resident out of their homes to inquire for the cause.
She said: “I and the other residents discovered and observed that there were four heavy duty trucks and trailers and a crane brought into our environment.
“The crane was parked on the vacant piece and parcel of land known as 2, Irawo Osan Street, Demurin, Obanle Aro Bus Stop, Ketu Lagos State while we observed that one of the heavy duty truck which had discharged an Oil/Petrol storage tank of about 160,000 cubic meters capacity was trying to manoeuvre into the main Demurin Street, though with much difficulties”.
“The other three heavy duty trucks carrying oil/petrol storage tanks of the same 160,000 cubic meters capacity each were parked on the main Demurin Street waiting to discharge the three storage tanks on the same 2, Irawo Osan Street, Demurin, Ketu Lagos, that protests and objects by the residents including me were ignored and these storage tanks were discharged on the land not minding the disturbances caused the sleeps of the residents,” she said.
However Justice Akapo adjourned the case to November 24, for hearing of argument on motion on notice for interlocutory injunction.
(Vanguard)
