The Lagos State Government has denied the allegations that it defied a subsisting court order during the recent demolition of structures in Oworonshoki.

Lawal Pedro (SAN), the state’s Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, described the claims as “false”, insisting that no government agency had been formally served with any court order before the operation commenced.

According to Pedro, he was aware of the injunction referenced by residents, it had not been served before the demolition exercise.

“As of today, I am aware of the court order they are referring to. However, before the demolition they are complaining about, no government agency had been served. I believe the order was endorsed on Friday, October 24, 2025, the same day the demolition took place,” he said.

“Even if the order was obtained that day, can a government office be served on a Saturday? At that time, no government agency was aware of any such order.”

The Attorney General emphasised that government institutions cannot act on verbal information about a court ruling, noting that only the formal service of court documents can compel compliance.

“If there has been any order said to have been violated, my position is that no such order was brought to the attention of any government agency before the act being complained about,” he maintained.

Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) has accused the Lagos State Government of contempt of court for continuing demolitions in Oworonshoki despite a restraining order.

In a statement issued on Sunday, Falana explained that on October 23, 2025, Justice A.G. Balogun of the Lagos State High Court in Ikeja granted an injunction prohibiting the state government, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, and the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) from demolishing buildings in Oworonshoki, specifically on Ajileru Street, Ososa Extension, and Toluwalase Extension.

This injunction was intended to remain in place while the state complied with pre-action protocols outlined in the Lagos State High Court Practice Direction No. 2 of 1999.

Falana further alleged that despite being served with the injunction on October 24, state officials mobilized security personnel and thugs to the area.

They reportedly fired tear gas at protesting residents and destroyed more than 100 houses, displacing many families. It was gathered that the demolitions took place on Saturday night, shortly after the state government presented compensation checks to 79 Oworonshoki residents whose properties had been demolished earlier as part of the urban regeneration program.

An ex- aide of former Bayelsa State governor and ex-Minister of State, Timipre Sylva has denied rumors of his arrest in the alleged coup plot to overthrown President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Earlier report had stated that the residence of the former governor was raided, however, close associates have confirmed that several parts of the house were destroyed.

An associate of the Sylva disclosed that “expensive doors were destroyed while a number of other household appliances were ransacked and scattered during the raid but nothing incriminating was found.”

The associate during a brief interaction with newmen, also dismissed reports linking the Managing Director of the Niger Delta Development Commission, Samuel Ogbuku, to Sylva in the alleged coup plot.

Ogbuku in a short message said, “I’m not aware of such. Just the way you are seeing it is the same way I’m seeing it too on social media.”

‘Sylva Not Involved In Any Coup’
Earlier on Wednesday, Sylva’s media aide, Julius Bokoru, issued a statement titled “Setting the record straight on recent false reports about Sylva” where he strongly denied his principal’s alleged involvement in the coup rumour.

“In the past 48 hours, I have been inundated with calls from members of the press, political associates, and concerned individuals regarding a circulating report alleging that His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, has ‘fled’ the country in connection with certain purported matters,” Bokoru said.

He confirmed the raid but insisted Sylva had no connection to any plot to topple the government.

“It is true that the residence of His Excellency, Chief Timipre Sylva, was recently subjected to a raid by individuals believed to be operatives of the Defence Headquarters. During the said operation, considerable damage was inflicted upon the property. Despite sustained efforts, I have been unable to ascertain the reasons or authorisation for this raid,” he stated.

According to Bokoru, both Sylva and his wife, Alanyingi, were outside the country during the raid.

“As at my last communication with His Excellency, he was engaged in a routine medical check-up in the United Kingdom, after which he was scheduled to proceed to Malaysia to attend a professional conference,” he explained.

He stressed that Sylva remained a “thoroughbred democrat” who had always relied on due process and political structures for his achievements.

Bokoru further described the coup allegations as politically motivated.

“These rumours are nothing more than the handiwork of desperate and narcissistic politicians, already consumed by ambitions for 2027, who see Sylva as their last real obstacle, a man whose political presence and credibility continue to expose their dark, self-serving ambitions,” he said

The Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) has released the shortlist of candidates eligible for the next stage of its ongoing recruitment exercise.

The announcement was made in a statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by the Secretary to the Board, retired Maj.-Gen. Abdulmalik Jubril.

The recruitment process covers four key paramilitary agencies: The Nigerian Correctional Service (NCoS)
The Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS): The Federal Fire Service (FFS): The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
Jubril stated that applicants can check their application status by visiting the official portal — https://recruitment.cdcfib.gov.ng — from Thursday, October 30, 2025.

“From Thursday, October 30, 2025, candidates are to check if they have been shortlisted for the next stage of the exercise, as well as the centres for the Computer-Based Test (CBT).

“Shortlisted candidates are also advised to take note of the venue, date, and time scheduled for their CBT,” the statement read.

He further cautioned applicants to access only the official recruitment portal and to be wary of fraudulent