The Surulere Local Government Authority in Lagos has defied a court injunction restraining it from occupying a property belonging to Deeper Life Bible Church in the local government area of the state.
The church had taken the LG to court in September 2024 following the demolition and the eventual possession of the land on which the property is located by the LG.
In a suit filed at the High Court of Lagos the presiding judge, Hon Justice E.O. Ashade restrained both the claimant and defendant ie the Deeper Life Bible Church and the Surulere Local Government from taking any action on the property pending when the case will be determined by the court.
But the local government has refused to obey the injunction. Rather, it has continued to carry on with construction work on the property. It has extended a market belonging to it to spread into the church property.
The legal representative of the Church, Nojeem Tairu told Church Times that efforts to get the LG to comply with court injunction have not yielded any fruit .
He said this necessitated another ruling from the court on May 27 asking the LG to stay away from the property of the church pending when the case will be determined.
“But nothing has been done in terms of compliance. The LG has refused to obey court order.’ Said Tairu.
About a week ago, some concerned members of the church had issued a statement lamenting alleged victimisation by Lagos State agencies .
They noted that some of their property in Lagos have been the target of these agencies in the state while pleading with Nigerians and the governor of the State Babajide Sanwoolu to come to their help.
They cited how the church in Yaba and Olorunisola in the state were destroyed.
But the destruction and eventual take-over of its Lawanson, Surulere property seems to have irked the church more.
Tairu believed the church is unduly being victimised.
He said while Deeper Life Church is not averse to government developmental efforts such efforts should be done legally.
Tairu then again pleaded with Nigerians and the governor of Lagos State to restrain its agencies while also urging the Surulere LG to comply with court injunction.
