Retiree Collapses in Court as Lagos Demolition Dispute Drags On
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An elderly homeowner collapsed during a hearing at a Federal High Court in Lagos as residents of several Okokomaiko communities press a long-running demolition case involving agencies including LAMATA.
An elderly retiree collapsed in the courtroom during proceedings before a Federal High Court in Lagos, throwing the human cost of a prolonged demolition dispute involving residents of Okokomaiko, Church Estate 1, Church Estate 2, Igbenyadu Community and Jubilee Estate into sharp focus.
The retiree, identified as one of the affected homeowners, reportedly slumped in full view of the presiding judge on September 24, 2026. Lawyers, litigants and others in the courtroom scrambled to save his life, and bystanders with first-aid knowledge administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation before he was moved to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
The affected landlords allege that demolition activities linked to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA) and other agencies have continued despite court proceedings and an injunction they say was issued in April. They further allege that the house of Mrs Blessing Okere was demolished on September 26, 2026, despite what they describe as existing court orders and instructions from the Federal High Court.
Vanguard reported that the allegation concerning Mrs Okere's property could not be independently verified from the materials available, and that no response from LAMATA or the Lagos State Government was provided by the affected homeowners.
Speaking to journalists after a hearing on Friday, October 2, the communities' counsel and human rights activist Femi Dodo said the dispute had already taken a heavy toll on residents. He said five people had died in connection with the situation, while another applicant was suffering a debilitating stroke, and confirmed that the second applicant who collapsed in court was still alive.
The homeowners say they spent their productive years acquiring properties they expected would provide shelter and financial security in old age, and are asking that their homes not be demolished without due process and adequate compensation.