Oba Of Ijegun Lands In Trouble Over Land Grabbing

MICHAEL AKINOLA

This may not be the best of times for the traditional ruler of Ijegun Land, in Lagos, HRM Oba Nureni Akinremi, following a petition against him over allegations of land grabbing.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the Lagos State Special Task Force on land grabbing has started investigation on the allegations of intimidation, harassment and forceful taking over of a parcel of land belonging to one Salau Rasaq Atanda despite the Court judgment.

This followed a petition written by Salau Rasaq Atanda to the Chairman of the Task Force through the office of the Attorney General of the Lagos State, Ministry of Justice.
In the petition dated 16th August, 2019, the petitioner alleged that Oba Akinremi was threatening his life, oppressing and committing unlawful acts against him over a parcel of land he had developed and was under construction.
Atande recalled that he bought five plots of land several years ago at Onijegun before Akinremi became the Oba. When he, Akinremi ascended the throne, he encroached on the land, which was subject of litigation before they had agreement and he collected three plots of the said land and another payment of over N200,000 in the interest of peace.
Atande said he went to continue work on the two plots he had already started work on before the matter was resolved in Court based on consent agreement but Akinremi went there and stopped work asking him to go and take another person’s land, which the person had developed.
He alleged that Akinremi was using Police to intimidate and harass him in order to take over the said land after he had collected his three plots and sold; he now wants to collect the remaining two plots he had commenced foundation works on with the aid of the Police.

Atande pleaded with the Lagos State Government to call Oba Akinremi to order so that he can continue work on the land.

When P.M.EXPRESS correspondent visited the Lagos State Task Force on land grabbing, the Chairman was not around to comment on the matter. However, a source at the office confirmed the petition against Oba Akinremi and said that the office has started investigation over the matter, which he said was brought there before and it was resolved  in 2015 before the latest petition.