A Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim injunction stopping the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development from demolishing the Boat ClubHouse property located at OT QC, Banana Island, Ikoyi, Lagos. The ministry had planned the demolition to create access for a new estate project, Apple Island.
The court’s order restrains the ministry, its agents, servants, and privies from taking any steps toward demolition pending further legal proceedings.
The interim injunction was granted in a suit filed by the Incorporated Trustees of the Banana Island Property Owners/Residents Association against the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development. The association sought to stop the planned demolition of the Boat ClubHouse at OT QC, Banana Island.
The court, after reviewing the motion supported by a 25-paragraph affidavit sworn by Chief Ugo Nnabuife, a legal practitioner residing at P35, 219 Close, Banana Island, along with attached exhibits and a written address signed by Okechukwu Tagboo Dike Esq., ordered all defendants to halt any demolition-related actions pending further hearing.
The Federal High Court’s interim order restrains the Attorney-General of the Federation, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, and their servants, agents, or privies from taking any steps regarding the Plaintiffs’ Boat Clubhouse, as referenced in their letter dated 28 February 2025, until the motion on notice is determined.
Additionally, the court ordered that the status quo concerning the Boat Clubhouse as of the date the suit was filed must be maintained by all parties involved, pending the hearing and determination of the motion on notice.
Furthermore, the court, after hearing O. Adejuyigbe (SAN) with M. O. Afolabi Esq., Counsel for the Plaintiff/Applicant, and having carefully considered the application and submissions of the counsel, also ordered that the status quo in respect of the Plaintiffs’ Boat CIubHouse be maintained by the parties, pending the determination of the Motion on Notice.
Residents of Banana Island have expressed shock and concern after officials of the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development reportedly invaded the estate on Tuesday morning and attempted to demolish the Boat Clubhouse, despite several court orders and interim injunctions explicitly restraining such actions.
“You needed to be here early enough to see the harassment and intimidation which these officials subjected our residents to this morning,” a resident of the estate who did not want his name in print stated on Tuesday.
He lamented that court orders are no longer respected, particularly by government authorities and their agencies.
He described the incident as deeply troubling, warning that such disregard for the judiciary sets a dangerous precedent and undermines the rule of law.
“This matter is in court, and there is an interim injunction restraining these people from demolishing our property, yet they were here in their numbers to carry out the demolition. What do you call a thing like this?” he queried.
In an effort to maintain peace and prevent further escalation, the estate management blocked the entrance to the estate, effectively halting all entry and exit for several hours.
This lockdown remained in place until the officials from the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development withdrew from the estate.
