It was an atmosphere of tears and sorrow as members of Igbo Buru Otu Association were watching the caterpillar sent by the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) destroying their N1bn estate built on the parcel of land bought from Chief Jelili Ayinde Abu Ododo a.k.a Akoi, Baale of Ijeododo kingdom, in Iba Local Council Development Area, Lagos State.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the parcel of the land, where the multi millions estate is located, was sold to them by the Baale of Ijedodo, Chief Ododo and it turned out that he wilfully sold the land without informing the association of any Federal or State ownership before they bought it.
So far, over 500 houses were said to have been destroyed while the caterpillar was seen still working and destroying more houses at the weekend when our reporter visited the estate located at Owolikoko Bus Stop area of Ijedodo.
The whole scam got exposed last week when the officials of FHA and armed Policemen, moved their caterpillar to the estate and started demolishing properties and thereby causing pains, sorrows and bitterness to the innocent owners.
The founder and president of Igbo Buru Otu Association, Eze Chika Nwokedi, who led his members to the site, narrated that the members bought the land from the Baale Ijedodo, Chief Ododo, because they believed that as the leader of the Community he cannot deceive them.
He explained that Ododo and some of his Council members came to their meeting and encouraged them to acquire the land assuring the members that it was safe and they were buying from the right source, who owned the land.
Eze Nwokedi explained that they had no suspicion that it will turn out to be a scam because Chief Ododo was involved and he issued receipts for the purchase of the land his members bought.
He hinted that over 500 members invested millions of Naira into the land, which was a swamp and they started developing the place, constructing the roads and putting structures in place.
He stated that he became suspicious when he went to properly register the estate after spending huge sums of money and he was told that it was land meant for the FHA.
Nwokedi said that when he contacted Baale Ijedodo, Chief Ododo, to inform him about what he discovered, his responses were not satisfactory giving suspicion that he actually knew that it was FHA land he sold to them.
Eze Nwokedi expressed shock when he received calls that the estate was being demolished. He went to the place and contacted the Baale but his response was that he heard so and they were engaging the officials of FHA.
When the aggrieved members of Igbo Buru Otu including the President of Igbo Speaking Community, Lagos State, Chief Sunday Udeh, visited the palace of Baale Ododo to find out why he sold the acquisition land to the victims, he called for calm and promised that the community was engaging the FHA over the matter and he believed that the matter will be resolved and members will have their land back.
However, Baale Ododo did not state when the matter will be finally resolved and who will bear the cost of the buildings already demolished by FHA.
Some of the members of Igbo Buru Otu association expressed shock over the incident and lamented that they have invested huge sums of money and watching their Investment going down the drain was very devastating.