A Federal High Court in Lagos has struck out a lawsuit challenging the N15 trillion Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road project, ruling that it lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case. The matter has now been transferred to the Lagos State High Court for proper adjudication.
The case, FHC/L/CS/1488/2024, was filed by community leaders and property owners in the Okun-Ajah area of Eti-Osa Local Government, led by Chief Saheed Olukosi and four others. They argued that the massive infrastructure project was encroaching on their ancestral land and sought legal intervention to stop the development.
Through their legal team—A.O. Ajiboye and E.C. Okorie—the plaintiffs requested the court to nullify the project’s design, halt ongoing work on their land, and award damages for trespass.
Defendants Argue Jurisdiction
In response, lawyers for the defendants—including Minister of Works, Dave Umahi, and Hitech Construction Company, the project contractor—filed preliminary objections. Their legal counsel, which included Prof. J.O. Olatoke (SAN) and Roy U. Nwaeze (SAN), argued that the Federal High Court was not the appropriate venue for a matter dealing primarily with land ownership and trespass, which falls under state jurisdiction.
The court agreed, ruling:
“This court has no jurisdiction to adjudicate over the subject matter in this case… The objections of the first to third and ninth defendants/objectors are therefore sustained.”
However, invoking Section 22(2) of the Federal High Court Act, the judge ordered the case to be transferred—rather than dismissed entirely—to the Lagos State High Court, where it will now proceed.
Controversy and Secrecy Around Project
The Lagos-Calabar Coastal Road, spanning approximately 700 kilometers and valued at N15 trillion, has faced mounting criticism since its announcement under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
In March, SaharaReporters revealed that journalists attempting to access the construction site were denied entry by security officials acting on directives from Hitech Construction. The lack of transparency, coupled with environmental concerns and funding questions, has deepened public scepticism about the project.
In November 2024, Minister Umahi disclosed that the cost per kilometre stood at N4 billion, countering claims by former Vice President Atiku Abubakar that it was as high as N8 billion per kilometre.
What’s Next?
With the jurisdiction issue now resolved, the Lagos State High Court will take over the case, where plaintiffs hope to receive a fair hearing on their land rights and compensation claims.
Meanwhile, scrutiny over the project’s transparency, cost, and execution practices continues to grow, with stakeholders calling for more public engagement and oversight.
