Court Dismisses Legal Challenge Against Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road Project

The lawsuit, filed by residents of the Okun-Ajah community and property owners in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area, was thrown out due to lack of jurisdiction. Justice Aluko, in his ruling delivered on March 24, 2025, transferred the case to the Lagos State High Court, which he identified as the proper venue for the dispute.

The plaintiffs, led by Chief Saheed Olukosi (Akogun of Okun-Ajah Community) and other residents such as Noibi Issa Afolayan, Yussuf Odunuga Sulaiman, Olufemi Fasehun, and Adeola Tokunbo, had sought the court’s intervention to stop the construction. They claimed the project encroached on their land and sought to nullify the designs and plans for the road that impacted their properties. They also sought an injunction to prevent the project developers from trespassing on their land, as well as damages for the alleged encroachment.

The defendants, including the Minister of Works, Dr. Dave Umahi, Hitech Construction Limited, and various government agencies like the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, opposed the case on jurisdictional grounds. Their legal representatives, senior advocates such as Prof. J.O. Olatoke (SAN) and Y.A.H. Ruba (SAN), argued that the Federal High Court was not the appropriate venue for the case, which they believed should be heard in the Lagos State High Court due to its involvement with state land matters.

After hearing the arguments, Justice Aluko agreed with the defendants, concluding that the Federal High Court did not have jurisdiction over the matter. He invoked Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, which permits the transfer of cases to a more appropriate court when jurisdiction is lacking, and ordered the case to be moved to the Lagos State High Court.