Yabatech retiree sues college over demolition of property

An octogenarian and retiree of Yaba College of Technology, Mrs. Vivian Osemwegie, has filed a motion before the Federal High Court  against the  college over alleged illegal demolition of her property.

Other defendants/respondents  in the suit are the Governing Council of the college, the Rector, Dr. Olubunmi Owoso, Engineer O. A. Olabode and Mrs. Agbaje Williams.

Mrs. Osemwegie, who retired as the institution’s Chief Lecturer in the Department of Graphic Design, School of Art and Printing, filed the suit through her lawyer, E. O. Etomi of FRA Williams Chambers.

 The motion, brought pursuant to Order 26 Rules (1)(3) of the Court, seeks the following reliefs: “an order extending the time to apply to set aside the orders of the Federal High Court dated August 30, 2024, delivered by Justice Dipeolu in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/753/2003, which granted the defendants leave to enforce the judgment of the Federal High Court delivered on February 2, 2007.

“An order setting aside the court’s order made on August 30, 2024, orders.

“An order setting aside the court’s order made on August 30, 2024, order granting police protection to the first defendant to enter Quarters 39, Aggrey Road, GRA, Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, and take possession of the property.

“An order for a stay of execution of the judgment delivered on February 2, 2007, in light of the August 30, 2024, orders.

“An order setting aside the execution of what the retiree claimed is a non-existent judgment or order.

The retiree listed five grounds for her application, which are: “that the defendants misled the court into granting the August 30, 2024, order.

“The court was misled into enforcing the February 2, 2007, judgment.

“The 2007 judgment contains no enforceable orders or directives.

“The Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to grant the defendants’ application to enforce the 2007 judgment. Mrs. Osemwegie was not given notice of the application to enforce the judgment.”Related News

The court is yet to fix a date  for the hearing of the motion while  the defendants/respondents are yet to file their response.

Mrs. Osemwegie, 80 years, had earlier petitioned the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department (Force CID), Alagbon, Ikoyi-Lagos, requesting for an investigation into the alleged illegal demolition of her property within the staff quarters.

The petition dated October 10, 2024, was submitted by one of her. lawyers, Asia E. Elvis, and titled: “A Case of Fraudulent Interference with the Administration of Justice, Willful and Malicious Damage to Property, Breach of Public Peace, and Threat to Life and Property.”

In the petition, Mrs. Osemwegie alleged that on October 2, 2024, unknown gunmen and thugs invaded her property at 39 Aggrey Road, Yabatech Staff Quarters, Yaba, Lagos.

She claimed the men forcibly removed her from the property and threw out her belongings without offering any explanation.

Counsel to the retiree stated in the petition that the 2007 court judgment in Suit No. FHC/L/CS/753/2003 was misrepresented in an attempt to forcefully take possession of his client’s property.

The petitioner states that the judgment does not contain any enforceable orders against our client.

The retiree’s lawyer further asserted that the property was legally acquired by Mrs. Osemwegie from the Federal Government and that Yaba College of Technology could not have authorised the actions, as the institution is aware of her ownership.

Instead, the petition suggested that the actions may have been orchestrated by unknown land grabbers.

The petition reads in part: “Our client, who is over 80 years old, served the nation meritoriously at Yaba College of Technology and invested her entire savings into acquiring the property.

“As we write, all her belongings have been destroyed, and she has been left homeless due to a purported non-existent judgment.”

The petitioner while offering to provide further information if needed, urged the AIG to urgently investigate the individuals involved, including the Rector of Yaba College of Technology.