Akeja Oniyanru Family Counters Taylor’s Family over ownership of disputed land

The Akeja Oniyanru Chieftaincy Family of Ogun State/Lagos State has faulted recent online publications claiming that the Kehinde Taylor Family are the owners of a large expanse of land situated at Abule Taylor, along Lagos -Abeokuta Expressway, in Ifako-Ijaiye Local Government Area of Lagos.

The online publications of September 6th, 2024 titled “Sanwo-Olu takes over Taylor’s Family’s N8billion land but won’t pay compensation” alleged that the Kehinde Taylor Family are the owners of the disputed property and are deserving to be paid compensation for the acquisition of the subject property by the Lagos State Government.

But, in a swift reaction, Akeja Oniyanru Chieftaincy Family in a statement issued by their lawyers urged the general public to disregard any insinuations/publications that the Kehinde Taylor Family are the owners of the subject property and are deserving to be paid compensation for the acquisition of property.

The statement jointly signed by Chief Bolaji Ayorinde SAN, and Adenrele Adegborioye stated that the consent Judgment purportedly obtained by the Kehinde Taylor Family in SUIT NO:ID/773LMW/18 and being relied upon in the Publications was obtained by fraud, misrepresentation and non-disclosure of material facts, hence cannot stand the test of time.

The letter states ‘’The Akeja Oniyanru Chieftaincy Family are the owners from time immemorial under native law and custom of all the vast and extensive parcel of land which spread from Otta , Ogun State up to Ojokoro , Wasimi, Abule Egba and the adjoining settlements in Lagos State which is particularly described and delineated on Survey Plan No, OGEK/3000/83 dated 21st November 1983 drawn by Surveyor Akin Ogunbiyi which is drawn from the earlier Survey Plan No: AP/317/67 dated 7th of October 1967 drawn by Surveyor Apatira.

‘’The Akeja Oniyanru Chieftaincy Family of Lagos State adheres to the rule of law in defending its land holding and have over the years taken legal steps to evict trespassers and illegal occupants in their land.

‘’One of such steps is the institution of SUIT NO: ID/1042M/2009 between Chief Shina Osho & Ors V. Segun C. Kehinde Taylor & Ors which is currently pending before Honourable Justice Odusanya of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Judicial Division.

‘’In the said Suit, Our Clients are seeking inter-alia for a declaration that the Akeja Oniyanru Chieftaincy Family of Ogun State and Lagos State is entitled to the customary or statutory right of occupancy of the large parcel of land situate, lying and being at Plots 412/420 along Lagos Abeokuta Expressway Abule Egba , Lagos and setting aside all acts and dealings of the E.J.A Taylor’s Family in respect of the subject property , being null and void.

‘’On the issue of compensation in respect of the Lagos State Government’s acquisition of the property, please be informed that upon the Lagos State’s Government acquisition of the property, the Lagos State Government had several meetings with the Accredited Representatives of the Akeja Oniyanru Chieftaincy Family towards payment of compensation for the acquisition of the land having recognized them as the real and true owners of the land.

‘’However, another Family (name withheld) had gotten wind of the steps to be taken by the State Government and had filed SUIT NO:ID/113Z2LMW/2022 to restrain the Lagos State Government from paying compensation to our clients’ Family and all other Defendants in the Suit having alleged that the land also belongs to them. SUIT NO:ID/1132LMW/2022 is pending before Honourable Justice R.J.B Adebiyi of the High Court of Lagos State, Ikeja Judicial Division and which Court had granted an Order restraining the Kehinde Taylor Family from trespassing upon, interfering with or disturbing the Lagos State Government’s possession and occupation of the land in dispute situate at Abule Egba.

Additionally, Our Clients state that the Consent Judgment purportedly obtained by the Kehinde Taylor Family in SUIT NO:ID/773LMW/18 and being relied upon in the Publication under reference and all other publications was obtained by fraud, misrepresentation and non-disclosure of material facts and which Consent Judgment cannot stand the test of time.

The subject matter of SUIT NO:ID/1773/LMW/18 wherein the said Consent Judgment was obtained and SUIT NO:ID/1042M/2009 are the same.

‘’The Kehinde Taylor Family who are the 1st and 2nd Defendants in SUIT NO:ID/1042/2009 surreptitiously filed SUIT NO:ID/773/LMW/18 whilst SUIT NO:ID/1042/2009 was pending without joining the Akeja Oniyanru Chieftaincy Family even though SUIT NO:ID/773/LMW/18 is in respect of the same subject matter as SUIT NO: I1D/1042/2009.

‘’Thus, the said Consent Judgment obtained by the Kehinde Taylor Family in SUIT NO:ID/773/LMW/18 has since been challenged by the Akeja Oniyanru Chieftaincy Family.

‘’The Kehinde Taylor Family has not mentioned the several cases and the status of the cases in Court in respect of the subject property in the various publications.

‘’The General Public is hereby informed and advised to ignore any insinuations or publication aforementioned or indeed any publications that the Kehinde Taylor Family are the owners of the subject property and are deserving to be paid compensation for the acquisition of the subject property’’.