A Lagos-based lawyer, Olajide Ajana, has explained that the Lagos State title of lands on waterways has failed since the Supreme Court struck out the Lagos State Government’s control of the waterways.
Ajana, in a statement, explained that since the title of the Oba Saheed Elegushi is based on the title issued by the Lagos State government, it follows that the Monarch title has also collapsed.
“Once the title and the claims of Lagos state have failed, the Title of Oba Elegushi and others to the area being sand filled at Orange Island axis of Lagos State has also failed, being derived from the Lagos State Government.
“This is to enlighten the general public and investors to be properly guided and understand that the Supreme Court is the highest court in Nigeria and their decisions are final and cannot be appealed,” Ajana said.
Recall that the Apex Court in a landmark judgment delivered in the case of National Inland Waterways Authority and Others VS Lagos State Waterways Authority (LASWA), Governor of Lagos State & Attorney General of Lagos State on January 5. 2024 by John Inyang Okoro JSC leading other four Supreme Court Justices declared null and void Lagos State Waterways Authority Law, 2008.
The Supreme Court noted that the views expressed by Femi Okunnu (SAN) in his book, ‘Contemporary State Land Matters in Nigeria’ in the case of Lagos State heavily relied on by counsel for the first to the fourth respondent to argue that waterways in Lagos State do not come under item 36 of the constitution and are the personal opinion of the author.
