Lagos Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Wednesday, at the State House, presided over a meeting on the Magodo imbroglio.

It was held 24 hours after a police contingent deployed from Abuja turned down his directive to leave.

In attendance were Judgment Creditors (Shangisha Landlords’ Association), their lawyers, Lagos Commissioner of Police, officers from FCT Command and Force Headquarters, Magodo Residents’ Association and government officials.

The parley discussed enforcement of the Supreme Court judgement delivered on February 10, 2012, in suit no. SC/112/2002.

The resolutions were made public in a statement by the Information Commissioner, Gbenga Omotoso.

A committee, to be set up and chaired by Lagos Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, will hold talks with the Judgment Creditors on Friday, January 7, 2022.

Lagos Surveyor-General, Permanent Secretary Lands Bureau, and Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development are to identify available land within Shangisha.

The committee was tasked to identify how the plots will be accessed and whether infrastructural development is necessary.

After identification, the government will immediately allocate the land to the aggrieved 549 Judgment Creditors.

But in the case there is no available expanse land within the Shangisha village scheme, an alternative will be provided.

The gathering concurred that the police will restrain from any conduct or action that may instigate violence or breakdown of law and order in Magodo.

“They should be keepers of peace and act within the confines of the law always. All the parties have agreed to an amicable resolution of the matter.

“The meeting ended with Mr. Governor restating his resolve to ensure that peace returns to Magodo and that there is justice for all”, Omotoso added.

The outcome means the Lagos government and the 549 landlords have stood down from their ‘no retreat no surrender’ position.

In a statement Wednesday night, Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, accused the state of playing to the gallery.

Malami lampooned Sanwo-Olu and “coalition of (South-West) Governors” for their “unjustifiable insinuation of impunity” regarding the execution of a Supreme Court judgement.

The AGF recalled that the matter was decided in February 2012, long before the tenure of President Muhammadu Buhari administration commenced.

“The judgment was a reaffirmation of the judgments of the Court of Appeal and High Court delivered on 31st December, 1993”, he noted.

Malami advised Sanwo-Olu’s colleagues to find out the circumstances stopping Lagos “from enforcing the court order despite several attempts from 2012- 2015 and so-called settlement initiative started in 2016”.

In a subtle declaration that the governors were fighting a battle already lost, the minister stressed that “the sanctity of the rule of law is not a matter of choice”.