The Lagos State Government has written to the Federal Government to shun any attempt to sell the Tafawa Balawa Square situated in State until the conclusion of the ongoing case at the Supreme Court.
the Federal Government was considering selling the Tafawa Balewa Square and some other assets in a bid to fund the 2023 budget deficit of N10.7tn.
A letter signed by the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, and addressed to the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, said pending Supreme Court case on the ownership of the property between the Federal and State government renders attempt to sell TBS and invalid.
The letter which was made available on Friday read, “The Honourable Attorney General of the Federation (HAGF) must be aware that the position of Federal Government to either sell or concession the Tafawa Balewa Square cannot be valid as the HAGF is the Plaintiff in Suit No. SC.508/2012 between Attorney a of the Federation vs. Attorney General of Lagos State pending before the Supreme Court wherein the HAGF is seeking for declaration that the ownership of the land, building, monuments structures and fixtures better known as Tafawa Balewa Square in the city of Lagos is vested in the Federal Government. The Suit is fixed for 1st November, 2022 for hearing by the apex Court.
“Unfortunately this is the second time the Federal Government and its Agencies have taken this position. Which is quite contrary to the recognition that there is an existing and pending dispute between the parties in relation to the ownership of the Tafawa Balewa Square and this resulted in the HAGF invoking the original jurisdiction of the Supreme Court to seek resolution of the dispute between the Federal Government and Lagos State Government.