Artisans Vs LAWMA: Court Hears Settlement Report, March 27

A Federal High Court,
Lagos, has fixed March 27, for report of settlement in a suit filed by some artisans against the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
The artisans had filed the suit in November 2012, under the aegis of Motor Mechanics and Technicians Association of Nigeria (MOMTAN), over plans by LAWMA to eject them from their place of business.
In the suit, the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing is also listed as a defendant.
When the case came up for hearing  Counsel to the plaintiff, Mr David Arisiola, informed the court that parties were exploring settlement options.
Justice Ibrahim Buba, therefore, fixed March 27 to hear how far the efforts being made to resolve the matter had gone.
The artisans had first filed the suit before Justice Okechukwu Okeke.
The suit was however re-assigned to Buba, following Okeke’s retirement.
In the statement of claim, MOMTAN is seeking an order restraining the defendants from ejecting its members from their workshops on Adeniji Adele Road, on Lagos Island.
The association alleged that LAWMA was threatening to eject its members from their business arena on Adeniji Adele Road in line with the state’s ongoing beautification programme.
According to the plaintiff, its members have been carrying on their businesses in the area since 1982 and have been paying taxes to the federal, state and local governments.
It would be recalled that Justice Okeke had granted an interim order restraining the defendants from taking further steps in ejecting the plaintiffs, pending the determination of the substantive suit.
Okeke had also ordered hearing notices to be served on the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing.