Kunle Adelabu
Invaders have continued to encroach on the property of the best Senior Secondary School in Nigeria and the premier college in Ikorodu Division, Oriwu Senior and Junior Model College, Ikorodu.
About twenty young men, known as ‘Omo – Oniles’, last Friday (December 11, 2020), reportedly stormed the Igbe axis of the school to forcefully open a gate sealed by the state government in a bid to take possession of the school land.
Sources within the Igbe community said that some officials of the Lagos State Government had, on Thursday (December 10, 2020), visited the point where the trespassers gained entry into the Polytechnic premises.
The same point was few months back forcefully broken by some people who said that they are members of the Ladugba family and that the school trespass into their lands.
When our reporter visited the scene on Friday, 2020, the affected gate was still open while some of the trespassers were seen inside the school premises.
THE IMPACT also gathered that the ‘Omo – Oniles’ are allegedly being backed by some powerful forces in Igbogbo, Ikorodu and some senior officials of the Lagos State Government, who have vested interest in the land.
Our reporter also observed that many residents of Igbogbo that erected shops close to the fence of the school and who have been ordered by the state government to vacate the place have refused to comply.
It was also noticed that some, people have also started laying foundation for a new set of shops close to the school’s fence.
Situation Before the latest Encroachment
Lagos State Government, through its agency incharge of building control, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), had on Tuesday, May 12, 2020, served a contravention notice to Oriwu College and those that unlawfully pulled down the college fence and erected a gate in its stead.
Another notice, ‘stop –work order’, was also served on the same day by LASBCA.
The illegal pulling down of a section of the school fence and encroachment into the school land by some unknown persons generated lots of condemnation from the members of the public with many describing the action as a blatant effontery and invasion on the common heritage of Ikorodu Division.
Chieftains and members of the Oriwu College Old Students’ Association of Nigeria (OCOSAN) have also described the encroachment as a direct threat on students and staff of the school while they equally expressed their readiness to challenge the action in court.
After the forceful encroachment into Oriwu College land and the order by the LABSCA, a letter was written by the S.A Shitta-Bey & Co, dated 28th May, 2020, and signed by one S.A Shitta – Bey, esq. of Jabita Chambers (Olugbos House), located on 14, Akinsemoyin Street, off Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos, asking the Principal of the Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu, to desist from trespassing into the portion of the school land belonging to Ladugba and Liwe land.
THE IMPACT gathered that copies of the letter by Shitta – Bey were sent to the Permanent Secretary/Tutor – General, Education District 2, Maryland, Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Igbogbo Police Station and Commander, Area ‘N’ Command, Ijede, Ikorodu.
While demanding the immediate cessation of the alleged encroachment, Shitta – Bey, in his letter, also gave 8-day ultimatum to the school management and demanded N50mmilion payment as damages, failure of which he said he would explore legal action to seek remedy.
In a response Lawrence Akinwunmi, a lawyer from the Ogunlewe & Ogunlewe Chamber, expressed dismay over the order given by the Shitta – Bey & Co.
The representatives of the two families ( Ladugba and Liwe) that Shitta – Bey claimed to be acting for, through the letter, expressed their dismay over Shitta’s claim , stating that they, as the accredited heads of the concerned families, did not instruct Shitta – Bey & Co. to act on their behalf.
Akinwunmi said that he had written the letter on the order of Ladugba family represented by Dr Jaiyeola Ogunlewe, Prince Gbadebo Ogunlewe, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe and Mr Olaniran Ifekoya and Liwe family represented by Madam Fausat Fatai, daughter of Ambashu Otudein, former Ambashu (head) of Liwe Family, Ikorodu.
Meanwhile, our investigation revealed that no court action has been instituted as threatened by Shitta – Bey in his petition written eight months ago where he had threatened court action if Oriwu College management fails to pull down its fence for his clients to take over the said property the college allegedly encroached upon.
In a phone chat with the Tutor – General/Permanent Secretary, Education District II, Mrs Anike Adekanye, she told our reporter that her office will work with the Principal of the Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu, after getting a full brief on the matter.
Chieftains of the Oriwu College Old Students’ Association of Nigeria (OCOSAN) who were contacted by our reporter on the issue – Engr. Charles Longe, President, Mr Taiwo Kara, Mr Wakiludeen Lemmy Anibaba and Mr Kunle Olambiwoninu, said that the association is on top of the matter.
Efforts to reach Barr. Qudus Lawal, one of the lawyers of the family allegedly involved in the encroachment saga, proved abortive as at the time of filing this report.
