Court blocks eviction of Lagos squatters

A Nigerian court ruled that the forcible eviction of tens of thousands of people from a waterfront slum in Lagos is unconstitutional. The judge said the rights of those evicted had been violated as there was no resettlement plan in place. BBC News reports that the state government had argued that the clearance was necessary as the slum posed an 'environmental risk'. Large crowds cheered outside the packed Lagos courtroom where many of the evicted residents had gathered.