LAGOS—WHITE Sand Market traders in Lagos Mainland Local Government Area of Lagos State have protested to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to save them from the council chairperson, who they accused of trying to take over the market.
The traders, led by Sherifat Thanni, said the call became necessary following continuous threats and abuse of court orders by the Mainland Chairman Council chairperson, Mrs. Omolola Essien.

But when contacted by Vanguard, Mrs Essien, said the matter was in court, hence she would not want to comment on it.

Thanni said on January 12, 2024, Justice Akinkunmi Idowu, the trial judge in suit LD/7078GCM/23, before a Lagos State High Court, directed the traders to meet with the council chairman for discussion on an amicable settlement.

Thanni said the proposed meeting was never held because the council chairperson did not honour their maany letters.

The aggrieved traders had instituted the case before a Lagos State High Court.

The court after listening to their argument granted them an injunction restraining Lagos Mainland LGA and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice from taking over the market pending the determination of the suit.

Narrating their ordeal, Thanni said trouble started in 2001, when the then LG authorities made a move to rebuild the market via the ones they built by themselves without any formal notice and the contractor failed to construct the road and the drainages then.

The market leader said: “Now the council said they want to demolish the market again. They said because of the drainage. And we are tired of their continuous extortion. We are not tired of taking care of our market because it is our only means of livelihood.”