By Adebeso Precious (SIWES Student, DS Adegbenro Polytechnic)
Lawal Pedro, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, and Femi Falana, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, have issued a stern warning to lawyers against assisting clients in punishing landlords.
This caution was given during an advocacy program titled “Building Collapse and Application of Punitive Laws in Lagos State,” hosted by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Ikeja Cell, in Lagos State.
The Attorney-General emphasized that disputes between landlords and tenants should not drag on in court for more than 60 days.
He stressed that prolonged legal battles over such issues discourage investments.
To address this, the Nigerian Bar Association and the Ministry of Justice plan to collaborate on creating clear and accessible legal guidelines.
They also aim to expedite cases, ensuring they don’t remain in the court system for more than 24 months.
Femi Falana, the Senior Advocate of Nigeria, cautioned lawyers not to assist clients in taking punitive actions against landlords.
He cited instances where tenants sought legal remedies despite not paying rent for extended periods, and he urged lawyers to be cautious and not become agents of impunity.
Olatunji Odunlami, the Commissioner for Physical Planning, highlighted negligence as a primary cause of building collapses.
He emphasized the importance of regulatory activities and the need for adherence to building laws and regulations to prevent such incidents.
