Former IGP Smith Fights Developer Over Acquired Family’s House

CYRIACUS IZUEKWE

The family of former Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Musiliu Adeola Kunbi Smith has been engrossed in legal battle with a developer over the acquisition of the family’s house and turning it into commercial purposes on Lagos Island.

The fight, which has turned brutal followed the insistence of the developer, Michael Ojoye, to construct shops for commercial purposes. This action has been resisted fiercely by the Smith’s family led by the former IG and his brother, a Professor.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that the Smith’s family was not happy that the family’s house where they all grew up was taken forcefully from them while they were still alive.

The land in question, which is located at Apongbon Street on Lagos Island, was originally owned by the Smith’s family and was acquired by the Federal Government for the construction of Apongbon fly-over in 1964.

However, Ojoye through his company, Segment Trading Company, went to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development which ceded the remaining part of the land to the company to develop.

It was gathered that when the company went to develop the land, Smith’s family came out and made claims to the land. The family took the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development to the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos to contest for the ownership of the land.

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that while the matter was in court, the company went ahead to build shops and construct building on the parcel of land. This action infuriated the Smith’s family.

According to the claims by Ojoye, thugs allegedly directed by two suspects, Kehinde Smith and Segun Ottun attacked him, destroyed shops and properties worth millions of naira in an attempts to forcefully take possession of the property.

Ojoye alleged that the former IGP Smith used his influence to use the police to intimidate and forcefully took possession of the land he legally acquired from the government.

In a petition written by a firm of Evans Ufeli and Co. on Ojoye’s behalf, to Deputy Inspector General of Police DIG Force Headquarters for Intelligence and Investigation in Abuja, it was alleged that after the initial demolition, their client reconstructed the property to suit business activities and enhance their trade.

It stated that in January 2017, the Divisional Police Officer, Ebute Ero division, Mr Sina Olunlade led a police team and destroyed the property and goods worth millions of naira.

They took windows, doors and other fittings to the police station.

This action put their client in distress.

The petitioner called for the Police authority to sanction the DPO who he accused of taking side with the Smith’s family because of the influence of the former IG.

However, when our correspondent contacted the DPO, he denied any involvement and said the matter was a civil matter which the court will determine.

He said the role he was supposed to play in the matter was to ensure that there was no breakdown of law and order in the area which is within his jurisdiction.