Court Rejects Bid To Bar Journalists From Land Case Involving Dr. Ojo Oluwatosin, Affirms Media’s Right To Report Proceedings

The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has refused an application to bar journalists from covering and reporting on a land case.

A renowned medical doctor and international consultant, Dr. Ojo Ademola Oluwatosin, filed the case following an attempt to forcefully take over a Lagos land belonging to him.

Justice Akinkunmi Idowu declined the plea by a defendant’s counsel, Mr. Kehinde Akerele.

Akerele had prayed the court to caution the claimant against publishing the court’s proceedings in the media.

The judge held that he could not restrain the media from covering the proceedings, especially if the report is accurate and reflects what happened in court.

Justice Idowu said journalists have a constitutional duty to report whatever occurs in an open court.

The claimant’s counsel, Dr Adekunle Ojo (SAN), denied publishing the court proceedings in the media.

He stressed that journalists were at liberty to report on any case without prompting.

Respondents in the suit LD/15415LMW/24 are Starmark Finance Company Ltd, Stephen Ajibade-Abisuga, Tunju Solaja and Peter Omotosho, an engineer.

The claimant is praying the court to restrain the defendants from usurping his right of ownership of the land in Lekki, Lagos.

At the last hearing, Dr. Ojo had informed the court of an application dated February 19 praying the court to order the withdrawal of the law firm of the Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), from handling the case.

The claimant’s lawyer’s application was hinged on the fact that the law firm, Lawal Pedro SAN & Associates, which represents the first defendant, cannot do so “on the ground of conflict of interest.”

The claimant is also praying the court “to set aside the order for change of counsel of the first defendant to the Law firm of Lawal Pedro (SAN) & Associates granted on the 18th February 2025.”

The claimant hinged his application on the ground that the “office of the Attorney-General had earlier issued DPP advice against the party his private law firm, Lawal Pedro (SAN) & Associates, seeks to represent.”

The claimant also argued that the first defendant, as represented by Lawal Pedro and Associates, suppressed fact before the court that the Attorney-General is “the principal partner/founder of Lawal Pedro (SAN) & Associates who issued a DPP’s advice criminally indicting the company and some individuals, recommending them for prosecution”.

Counsel to the first respondent, Mr Kehinde Akerele, informed the court that he had two pending applications which had been served on all the parties.

One of the applications, dated April 7, seeks the leave of the court to allow the first respondent to change the address of service.

The claimant’s counsel informed the court that he had just been served and that he needed time to respond.

Justice Idowu adjourned until May 20 for the claimant’s counsel to file his response and for hearing.