A Lagos High Court sitting, in the state capital has delivered a decisive ruling in favour of the Deeper Life Bible Church, ordering the Surulere Local Government to immediately vacate a parcel of land belonging to the church following the unauthorized demolition of its worship centre earlier this year.

The ruling, delivered on Thursday by Justice E.O. Ashade, also restrains the local council and its agents from carrying out any form of development or construction activities on the disputed property, located at 36, Aina Street, Lawanson, Surulere, pending the final determination of the ongoing case.

In addition, the court directed the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG), Zone 2, to provide adequate protection for the church and its members, warning against any further interference, harassment, or attempts to disrupt the church’s operations on the land.

Justice Ashade emphasized that the church must be allowed unhindered access to use the premises for worship and other religious activities, stating that any violation of the court’s orders would amount to contempt of court and attract legal consequences.

The dispute stems from the demolition of the church building in January 2024, allegedly carried out by the Surulere Local Government and officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), despite a court order restraining any action on the land until the matter was fully resolved.

According to the church, the demolition occurred without due process and in direct violation of an interim injunction earlier granted by the court to maintain the status quo.

“Since 2007, we have worshipped and served the community from this location,” said Pastor Israel Adeagbo, leader of the affected Deeper Life parish. “However, in January 2024, the Surulere Local Government notified us of plans to remove our building. This occurred despite an ongoing court case concerning the matter.”

Eyewitnesses reported that within 48 hours of the demolition, the local council had mobilized contractors to begin constructing market stalls or shops on the cleared land, prompting the church to return to court to seek protection and the restoration of their rights.

Efforts to resolve the matter amicably were brokered by stakeholders including the police, members of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), and other community leaders. However, these discussions reportedly broke down after the Surulere Local Government offered a compensation sum of ₦10 million, which the church considered grossly inadequate.

The church’s legal representative, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Taiwo Kupolati, confirmed that the ₦10 million offer was made in a letter from the council’s legal team, described as “full and final compensation” for both the demolished building and the land.

“We immediately responded, requesting that a fair settlement should be based on a joint valuation involving both parties’ estate valuers and possibly include the allocation of alternative land within the same area,” Kupolati said. “However, the local government failed to engage further or respond to our proposal.”

Kupolati explained that the local government’s subsequent actions including filing a statement of defence and an application for an extension of time to respond to the court indicated a lack of willingness to settle the matter peacefully.

“Despite the peaceful approach we took, we were met with silence and disregard,” he added. “This forced us to return to court to protect our client’s rights.”

In delivering his ruling, Justice Ashade agreed with the church’s position, describing the local government’s conduct as inappropriate and unlawful. He noted that the church had established sufficient legal interest in the land and that the local government’s continued occupation and development of the site without a court verdict or negotiated settlement was unacceptable.

The judge granted an injunction restraining the council and its agents from further interfering with the land and directed that the Deeper Life Bible Church be allowed to resume full control of the property pending the conclusion of the main suit.

Justice Ashade also left the door open for renewed dialogue, stating that both parties remain at liberty to pursue out-of-court settlement, but emphasized that no action contrary to the court’s order would be tolerated.

Legal and Community Implications

The judgment has sparked conversations around property rights, abuse of power, and the responsibilities of local government authorities in handling disputes involving religious and civil institutions.

Legal analysts note that the case may set an important precedent for church-state relations in Nigeria, particularly in urban centres where land disputes are increasingly common due to real estate pressures and poor urban planning.

For the church, the ruling offers a measure of justice and a path forward.

“The court’s decision is a vindication of our position and a clear message that unlawful actions, no matter how powerful the actors, will not go unchallenged,” Kupolati said. “We will continue to seek not just restitution, but justice.”

The case is expected to return to court in the coming months for final determination on the substantive issues, including ownership, valuation, and compensation.