There was pandemonium at the Federal High Court in Lagos on September 24, 2026, when an elderly landlord allegedly slumped inside the courtroom during the hearing of a suit filed by residents of Okokomaiko, Church Estate 1, Church Estate 2, Igbenyadu Community and Jubilee Estate over alleged demolition of properties linked to the Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority, LAMATA.
The retiree, identified as one of the affected homeowners and the second applicant in the suit, reportedly collapsed in the full view of the presiding judge, throwing lawyers, litigants and court staff into panic as they scrambled to save his life.
Eyewitnesses said some persons in the courtroom with basic first-aid knowledge quickly administered cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR, in a frantic effort to revive the elderly man.
He was later moved to a nearby hospital for further medical attention, where he is said to be responding to treatment.
The incident, which brought the plight of the estate residents into sharp focus, occurred amid an ongoing legal battle over alleged demolition and acquisition of properties in the affected communities, with homeowners insisting that their properties should not be demolished without due process and adequate compensation.
According to the affected property owners from Okokomaiko, Church Estate 1, Church Estate 2, Igbenyadu Community and Jubilee Estate, the incident was a grim reminder of the emotional and psychological burden the demolition dispute has imposed on residents who said they invested their lifetime savings in building their homes.
The landlords alleged that demolition activities linked to LAMATA and other agencies had continued despite the pendency of court proceedings and an injunction they claimed was issued in April 2026.
They further alleged that structures are still being demolished in the affected estates while the matter was pending before the court.
In another allegation, the property owners claimed that the house of one Mrs. Blessing Okere was demolished on September 26, 2026, despite what they described as existing court orders and directives from the Federal High Court.
These allegations could not be independently verified as of the time of filing this report. Efforts to get the reaction of LAMATA and the Lagos State Government were not successful, as no official response was made available to our correspondent.
For the residents however, the claims have heightened fears that more homeowners across the five communities could lose properties they spent decades acquiring.
Speaking to journalists after the court session on Friday, October 2, 2026, at the Federal High Court, Lagos, counsel to the affected communities, Mr. Femi Dodo, a legal practitioner and human rights activist, said the dispute had taken a heavy toll on residents.
According to Dodo, five persons had allegedly died in connection with the situation, while another applicant was suffering from a debilitating stroke.
“People are dead. People are in despair,” Dodo told journalists.
He confirmed that the second applicant who collapsed in court was still alive.
“Yes. The second applicant is still alive, by the grace of God,” he said.
Dodo urged the court and relevant authorities to intervene urgently to prevent further loss of lives and properties, stressing that the matter was already before a court of competent jurisdiction.
Meanwhile, after hearing arguments from counsel to both parties, the court adjourned the matter for judgment on the various motions filed by the Lagos State Government and LAMATA against the property owners.
The presiding judge is expected to deliver rulings on the motions on a date to be communicated to the parties, while the substantive suit remains pending.
Legal observers say all parties are expected to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the motions by the court.