The Foworanu Ogunleye Family of Oke Ahoro area in the Iwoye community, near Ilaro in Ogun State, has condemned a recent media attack on them and one of their buyers, Alhaji Mutairu Owoye.
The family also described the attack as a “desperate move” to cover up an illegal sale of their family land by some unscrupulous persons and the monarch of the town.
Head of the family, Chief Imam Foworanu Ogunleye, noted that the media attack on the family is a clear disregard to a judgment by a former Olu of Ilaro, Oba Adekanbi Tella and his chiefs.
The family head said, “Let me begin by saying here that we are indigenes of Oke Ahoro area of Iwoye and we have not employed the services of any land grabber”.
He wondered, “How can we take land grabbers to our own land. They are just trying to cover up the sale of our land. We have been confirmed as the customary owner of Oke Ahoro community”.
He narrated, “Sometime in 1996, we made attempts to survey our great grandfather’s land in Iwoye and we were dragged to the late Olu of Ilaro and his council by a former Oba in Iwoye, Oba Solomon Aina.
“The then Olu Ilaro, the late Oba Adekanbi Tella set up a committee, which included :Chief Yesufu Ekunola,Elemu of Ilaro, Chief SA Dawotola, Otun Agoroof Ilaro (secretary to Olu in Council, Chief G. A Olatunji, Sawo of Ilaro, Chief H Y Musa Amona Oba (recorder).”
“The family head also stated, “After the on the spot inspection and assessment of the land, we all returned to the Oba’s palace and a judgement was given in our favour”.
According to a judgement by the Olu -in Council ,” the defendants (Foworanu Ogunleye Family cultivated the land for over 500 years and that they have right to claim the ownership of land, ,being used for over 500 years.
The family head also noted, “We have no problem. The immediate past regent of the town, Ogundare Sandra, also intervened on behalf of our customary tenants and we agreed to give them from our family land. An agreement was also documented in that regard”.
According to him, trouble started when one of our father’s customers, Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye, attempted to take possession of his land. We have no problem with him since we are aware of the transaction”.
“To our surprise, the monarch of our town, Oba Buhari Makinde, petitioned us before the Ogun State Task Force on Land Grabbing and we were invited alongside the petitioner.”
The family head also said, “After careful investigation, the Task Force on Land Grabbing advised Oba Makinde to return home and settle the matter amicably with us”.
“Secretary to the family, David Foworanu Ogunleye, raised the alarm that ‘Our lives are now in danger’ . We have been receiving threats from suspected cult members in our town.”
“Some days ago, these hoodlums blocked the major way in the town maligning our names and that of Alhaji Owoeye over a matter that had long been resolved.”
He pleaded, “We are calling on the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun and the Commissioner of Police in the state, CP Bode Ojajuni’, to save us from our oppressors”.
He also said, “Baba Owoeye is not a land grabber on our land. He bought land from our fathers and we are all privy to the transaction. We cannot stop him from taking over his property”.