CHSR Indicts Police, State Govt Over Menace Of Land Grabbers In Ojomu Community 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the allegations was made during the press conference organized by the group led by their president, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, at the International Press Centre in Ogba, Lagos.

The group noted that there was need to curb the activities of the land grabbers in Ojomu community and other areas in the State because of their nuisance in the State.

In the conference, which was attended by different civil societies groups, they called on the Lagos State Governor,  Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to quickly address the issue of land grabbers because of the bad image they have brought to the State.

In the speech, the president, Alex Omotehinse, stated that CHSR is a service oriented non-governmental organization (NGO) registered as a corporate body to defend, sustain and promote the fundamental human and socio-economic rights of citizens and residents in any part of Nigeria as guaranteed by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

He stated that CHSR collaborates with other organizations committed to an ideal Nigerian society founded on participatory democracy, equity, fairness and rule of law. CHSR works with state and non-state actors, institutions and stakeholders in communities and neighbourhoods towards ensuring fairness, equity, justice and harmony with the view to curtailing threats to public peace and violent incidences.

This press briefing was therefore, in furtherance of the mandate of CHSR and the overriding objectives of civil society stakeholders in the quest to defend victims of abuse of human rights and to promote the cause of justice and peaceful coexistence in the society.

In his speech, Mr. Alex Omotehinse stated members of the CHSR are deeply concerned by the continuous threats to public peace as a consequence of the unlawful activities of land grabbers in Ojomu Community, otherwise referred to AJIRAN LAND in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State.

“Civil Society Stakeholders therefore, consider it compelling to address the media with the view to drawing the attention to the perilous situation in Ojomu community and to demand urgent actions from relevant authorities in Lagos State as well as security agencies and other relevant institutions.

“The intervention of Civil Society Stakeholders has become imperative to put an end to reckless abuse of human rights, malicious disobedience of constituted authorities as well as brazen disregard for the laws of Lagos State as enforceable in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

“The intervention of civil society stakeholders has become pertinent to forestall further situation in Ojomu Community (AJIRAN LAND) and need for urgent intervention.”

“CHSR has received a number of complaints bordering on activities of land grabbers, who overtime have become atrocious in Ojomu community otherwise known as AJIRALAND. The various petitions by concerned stakeholders regarding the worrisome activities of land grabbers in AJIRAN LAND have been extensively reviewed by Civil Society Groups under the platform of CHSR.”

“These petitions include those forwarded to the Nigeria Police as well as Ministries, Agencies and critical actors of Lagos State Government namely; (The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Lagos State,  Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice,  Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Coordinator, Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers).”

“Copies of these petitions made available to CHSR included a letter forwarded to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba on December 12, 2022 by OBA OF LAGOS, HIS ROYAL MAJESTY OBA RILWANU AKIOLU. The letter titled: REQUEST FOR SPECIAL URGENT INTERVENTION (REF: OOL/017/VOL.III/374 decried the alarming unlawful activities of land grabbers under the coordination of Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen and demanded the intervention of Nigeria Police in curbing the menace.”

“Equally important to mention is the petition,which was forwarded to the Inspector General of Police earlier on December 8, 2022, from FADESERE & CO (legal practitioners) on behalf of HRM OBA AKINLOYE TIJANI SATERU II OF AJIRAN LAND and the BALOGUN OF AJIRAN LAND, ALHAJI YEKINI CHIEF OLAWALE BAKARE regarding harassment, hooliganism, threats to life and conducts likely to cause breach of public peace in the community.”

“It is however, unfortunate that no concrete action has been taken by both Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police to put Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen and other land grabbers in check.”

“Unlawful Activities of Land Grabbers in Ojomu community:

These land grabbers led by one Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen engage in wanton harassment of rightful allottees and criminal trespass on legitimately acquired lands in flagrant violation of the extant laws of Lagos State.”

“It is indeed alarming that the activities of Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen are in total disregard for the authority of the traditional institution of AJIRAN LAND vested in the office of Oba of AJIRAN LAND, His Royal Highness, OBA AKINLOYE TIJANI SATERU II.

Under the coordination of Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen, these land grabbers circumvent legitimate land documentations that bear the seal of Lagos State Ministry of Lands and the Consent of the authority of Governor of Lagos State as provided for under the land acquisition procedures of Lagos State.”

“More disturbing however, is that the illegitimate activities of the said Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen are in blatant negation of existing valid agreements between land owners and the bonafide family in Ojomu community.”

“CHSR is concerned that the masterminds of the disturbance in Ojomu communities are acting contrary to the orders and authorities of legally constituted and recognised traditional institution of AJIRAN LAND who are the legitimate custodians of culture and heritage of AJIRAN LAND as vested under the Lagos State Obas and Chiefs Law of 1981.”

“More so, the activities of these land grabbers are in flagrant contravention of extant law of Lagos State; notably the Lagos State Property Protection Law of 2016 with respect to land grabbing. It is important to note that Section 2 (1) of the Lagos State Property Protection Law specifically prohibits the use of force or self-help by anyone to take over any landed property or engaging in any act inconsistent with the proprietary rights of the owner of any landed property in Lagos State.”

For the purposes of this press briefing, particulars of two of the land grabbing cases reviewed following complaints and formal request for intervention from representatives of traditional authorities and community leaders well as other victims of incessant and unbridled harassments, criminal trespass are provided as follows:

A LAND SITUATED AT PLOT 23, block LXXIX, MUNICIPALITY ON 18, KAMAL SHASHI STREET, BAKARE ESTATE, AGUNGI, LEKKI.

The land on which the above property under reference belonging to Alhaji Babatunde Shonubi was legally acquired by virtue of DEED OF ASSIGNMENT dated February 25, 2010 and registered with Reference Number; 45/45/2264 at the Lands Registry, Alausa Ikeja.

The land under reference was forcefully taken over by land grabbers who have since commenced Illegal construction of a two storrey building.

A LAND SITUATED AT PLOT 7, BLOCK LXXIX, ON OJOMU CHIEFTAINCY FAMILY LAND, AJIRAN WITH GOVERNOR CONSENT UNDER THE LAND USE ACT (C.A.P 202 OF 1990) LAND USE REGULATION 1982

The land on which property the above property under reference belonging to Mrs. Georgina Omolara Afolaranmi was legally acquired by virtue of DEED OF ASSIGNMENT DATED MAY 6, 2014.

The land under reference was forcefully taken over by land grabbers who have since completed Illegal construction in spite of valid documents duly obtained by bonafide owners of the property.

The two cases cited above speak to the brutal lawlessness and victimization orchestrated. with reckless abandon by land grabbers led by Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen against hundreds of innocent citizens who legitimately acquired lands in Ojomu community with proper documentation duly approved and signed by agencies of Lagos State Government.

The Need for urgent intervention: Our Demands

Civil Society Stakeholders under the platform of CHSR consider the failure of relevant authorities; particularly the Lagos State Government to call the known land grabbers to order as high disappointing.

It is apposite to emphasise that the continued activities of these land grabbers portend glaring indictment of Lagos State Government.  The continued unlawful activities of these land grabbers clearly repudiate the spirit and letters of the Lagos State Property Protection Law which prohibits activities forceful and illegal occupation of land legitimately acquired by citizens.

Therefore, civil society stakeholders under the platform of CHSR hereby

We demand that both the Lagos State Government and Nigeria Police should put an end to harassment of authentic allottees and rightful owners of lands in Ojomu community and by extension AJIRAN LAND.

Call out the Lagos State Government for failing to protect legitimate authority of traditional institution in AJIRAN LAND against the reckless insubordination of land grabbers.

We urge Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reverse the ugly situation and restore the honour and pride deserved by the legally recognised custodians of culture and heritage of AJIRAN LAND.

We urge Governor Sanwo-Olu to investigate incidents relating to the threats to lives of HRM OBA AKINLOYE TIJANI SATERU II OF AJIRAN LAND, the BALOGUN OF AJIRAN LAND, ALHAJI YEKINI CHIEF OLAWALE BAKARE and members of their families which for the basis of the petition forwarded to the Inspector General of Police on December 8, 2022.

“We demand that Lagos State Government should investigate allegations of forgery of DEED OF ASSIGNMENT and other land related documents duly authorized and signed with the authority of Ojumu family as well as Lagos State land documents.

We demand that Lagos State Government should urgently investigate human rights abuses being perpetrated by land grabbers in Ojomu community including intimidation and ostracizing of certain sons of Ojomu community by Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen

We demand urgent and concrete action against unlawful activities of land grabbers in Ojomu community with the view to put an end to the menace forthwith.

We urge Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to give immediate directives to relevant agencies to enforce the cessation of illegal activities of land grabbers in Ojomu community.”

“We call on the Inspector General of Police to direct the Lagos State Command to ensure that the rights of innocent citizens are not trampled forthwith in Ojomu community in the interest of justice and peace.”