Kunle Adelabu
-Alleged connivance between GRA residents, LASBCA officials to take over their lands
Residents of Otunba Theophilus O. S. Benson Estate located between the GRA Scheme II and the Alogba Estate in Ikorodu West Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ikorodu Division, Lagos State, Southwest, Nigeria, have called on the Governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo – Olu and Speaker, Lagos State Assembly, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa, to save their souls from those terrorising them and demolishing their houses.
They alleged that residents of GRA Scheme II, are terrorizing them to force them out in a bid to achieve their ulterior plan to take over their community and add it to the GRA Scheme II.
The petition was written by Ezekiel Ogbaide & Co, the solicitor to the residents of T.O.S Estate property at Ibelefun Amojo-Ojuolokun,Matori, Ibeshe, Ikorodu, Lagos State.
The petition was equally copied to Senator Tokunbo Abiru, Lagos East, Rep. Babajimi Benson, representative Ikorodu Federal Constituency, Hon. Gbolahan Ogunleye, representative, Ikorodu Constituency I, Hon. Aro Moshood Abiodun, representative, Ikorodu Constituency II, Mr Dr. Oluyinka Olumide, Commissioner for Urban Planning & Urban Development; Ms. Abisola Olusanya, Honourable Commissioner for Agriculture & Food System and Dr Nurudeen Agbaje, Special Adviser to the Governor on Rural Development & Chieftaincy Affairs.
Also copied were the Lagos State Commissioner of Police and General Manager, LASBCA.
The petitioners are asking the State Governor and other state functionaries to come to their aid and save them from Kolawole Nurudeen , Moshood Alalade Lawal, Dodo Amode and Engr. Olatunbosun Jide Ladipo and others, whom they alleged of threatening them.
The petitioners are: Lateef Anjorin, Sulaimon Akintunde, Oluwa Sina Alabi, Amos Ejalonibu, Adamso Yusuf, Seun Abiodun, Issa Ajape, Kayode Oyemade, Sikiru Oyedepo, Uchenna Daniel, Adams Ikoloba, Sunday Igor, Adedamola Saseyi, Kate Okpo and Mrs.Kumolu Johnson and others.
“Our brief is that our clients have been in occupation of the above subject matter for over 20 years now, where they have built their various houses.
“The said Estate shared boundary with Ibeshe GRA ll scheme and due to the proximity, they approached the GRA ll residents to join their CDA meeting for the general security and peaceful co-existence. At first, their request was turned down on the ground that they are not part of the GRA ll scheme but on the fourth attempt, they were admitted.
“We were further informed by our clients that as soon as they joined the GRA ll CDA, the GRA ll residents started laying claims, in connivance with the scheme officer, that the GRA ll extended and covers the TOS Estate land and that it has been long acquired and allocated to certain individuals”, the petition said.
It was stated that the petitioners has since challenged the alleged claims by GRA Scheme II residents in connivance with officials of LABSCA, and that an injunction of the court has been issued by the court for all the parties to maintain the status quo until the final pronouncement by the court.
It was further alleged that the LASBCA officials led by one Engr. Olatunbobosun, on two different occasions carried out demolition of houses against the court directive.
“Sequel to the claim, the TOS Estate, through their lawful Attorney, filed suit No. IKD/1317LMW/2015 between MADAM ESTHER FEHINTOLA HARRIET &ORS v CHIEF AHMED ADEBIYI &ORS and the Honourable court, coram M.A SAVAGE (J) on the 17th December, 2015, did obtain an Order of interlocutory injuction of status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit. Copy, hereby, attached.
“The GRA ll residents, in complicity and connivance with the LASBCA officials, keep terrorising and threatening our clients to vacate and deliver vacant possession of the property to them as forming part of the GRA ll scheme.
“The LASBCA officials have carried out demolition of houses on two different occasions with the latest being on Thursday, October 10, 2024, led by Engr. Olatunbosun Jide Ladipo, during which several houses were demolished in the absence of our clients.
“When reminded of the pendency of Suit No. IKD/1317LMW/2015 between MADAM ESTHER FEHINTOLA HARRIET &ORS v CHIEF AHMED ADEBIYI & ORS and a subsisting interlocutory Order of status quo, he was alleged to have reported “which court order, are we all not part of the government?”.
The petitioners also alleged that those terrorizing them are boasting of protection of police whom they are using to terrorize them.
It was stated that two of the petitioners who attempted to take photographs while their houses were, are being detained in Kirikiri.
“Mr. Moshood Alalade Lawal, boasting of adequate Police cover through the influence of his brother (one retired DIG Gasali Lawal), is reported to have been terrorising our clients and even boasted openly at the CDA meeting when the CDA wanted to intervene in the matter, that, “I know I would die one day but before I die, I would kill as many of you as possible and ensure that none of you remained on the land”, the petitioners alleged.
“The said Mr. Moshood Alalade Lawal has been using the police against our clients at every opportunity such that as we write, two (2) children of one of our clients are currently languishing on remand at Kirikiri prison on a framed-up allegation of trying to sell a house when they attempted to take photographs of developments going on in violation of the court Order of status quo. The horrible assault and arrest of the boys were recorded on video in the custody of our clients.
It was also stated that LASBCA did not issue any notice of demolition or get any order from any court before the alleged demolitions.
The residents are, therefore, calling on the Governor of the State and others to protect their lives and help them get justice.
“Worthy of note is the fact that no “Notice of Demolition” or “Court Order” was given to Our clients before their houses were demolished alongside with all their life belongings.
“We, hereby, call on your good office to save the lives of our clients and redress the illegality perpetrated by the culprits in earnest.
“We look forward to a prompt response as always”, the petitioners said.
Meanwhile, the affected residents staged a protest at the Lagos State House of Assembly’s Constituency Stakeholders’ Meeting hosted by Hon. Gbolahan Ogunleye in Ikorodu, about two weeks, in an attempt to draw attention to their ordeal.
