A High Court sitting in Lagos has adjourned the judgment in a suit between several waterfront settlements and the Lagos State Government to May 25.

The judgement is over the court’s jurisdiction to entertain the matter. Justice Adeniyi Onigbanjo at the resumed hearing of the matter on Tuesday gave parties 14 days to file and respond to written addresses on the issue of the court’s jurisdiction.

The suit was filed by 33 applicants suing on behalf of themselves and other residents of settlements including Otodo Gbame.

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The respondents in the matter are the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Lagos State Governor and the Commissioner of Police. 

“While I was going through the court processes, I discovered that issues of jurisdiction were raised,” the judge said.

“These issues ought to be addressed.

“The applicant will have seven days to file their relevant court processes while the respondents also have seven days to file their court processes in response to the applicant.”

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The applicants are seeking a declaration, among others, that they are the first settlers on the land and are lawful residents of the communities. 

However the defence counsel and Lagos State Director of Civil Litigation, S. A. Quadri, in his submission said that the claimants “have no title documents to the land whatsoever.”

Azeez