Stop Police From Harassing Us Over Our Land – Family Begs Gov Sanwo-Olu 

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the family made this call on Tuesday while protesting against Police harassment by officers attached to the the Lagos State Task Force, who have taken over their land against the order of the Court.

The family alleged that despite the interlocutory injuction obtained by the claimant (the family), the defendant who are hijackers, are working against the Court order to take possession of their land.

The portions of land, which is about two hundred and twelve hectares of land, were allocated to Oyemade Royal Family as at 1996.

The protesters were adorned with different placards with inscriptions such as “Lagos State Government Stop Contempt” , “Task Force Leave Our Land”, “Stop Terrosing,”Governor Sanwo-Olu Uphold Democracy Value”, Lagos State Please Let’s Us Breathe”.

“The disputed land is situated at the Monastery Road, Ajah area of Lagos State. We are law abiding citizens and we don’t want to take laws into our hand, that is why we are appealing to Sanwo-Olu to help us and save us from the Task Force” they said.

Speaking with Journalists during the protest, Mr. Saliu Tajudeen, one of the prominent members of the family, stated that about eleven hectares of their land is being hijacked by some group of people, who are hiding under the Lagos State Government to take over their land.

“Our family, under the agesis of Oyetubo Joko T’Ade Estate Management, which comprises of three families, have been managing our properties which was over 200 hectares of land and decided to reserve 11 hectares, allotted some portion to some people. But to our surprise, some hijackers hiding under the State Government took over our land claiming that they are acting on the instructions of the Governor.”

“We took the matter to Court and despite the Court order that both parties were asked to maintain status quo, they are using the Police to harass us up till this moment.”

“We started allocating the land to the allotees and kept a portion for reserve for the family. After a while, the whole family decided to incorporate our land, because we are three. The senior is Oyetubo, the second is Banjoko and the last one is Okunade. We then used the abbreviation to form the company called Joko T’Ade Estate Management Resources.”

“Although, Lagos State has denied their involvement and we believe that the Government did not have a hand in it, which is why we are calling on the Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to step into the matter and stop the hijackers from using Police to harrass us and the allotees.”

“We urge Gov. Sanwo-Olu to intervene so as to avoid breakdown of law and order in the area; because we don’t want trouble that’s why we are calling on him and the authorities concerned to intervene and stop the hijackers. When New Town Development Authority (NTDA) demolished, we took on them and got Court order stopping them from accessing the land until after judgement.”

Also speaking on the matter, Chief Jamiu King Akinsemoye, urged the State Government to hand over the land to them and stop unlawful demolition of their land.

“We abided by the order, but surprisingly the Lagos State Government hijackers encroached and brought in Police Task Force, chasing, beating, and harrassing our family members while some were arrested and detained whenever they come to inspect the land. We would not allow them take our inheritance from us. As we speak, we dare not enter into the estate, we would be restricted.”

“Some of the allotees have gotten Lagos State Consent. We want the State Government to hands off our property. The Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, Sanwo-Olu and other authorities concerned should help us. We are the rightful owner of the land. The hijackers are using office to perpetrate the crime.”

He added that about twenty houses were demolished in the estate, while others were marked and demarcated by the NTDA.

“Fortunately, Lagos State Government didn’t revork our licence. Suddenly they just revoked eleven hectares of land from us without reason. We want drastic action from the Government against those tarnishing the image of the Governor by taking peoples land indiscriminately, without genuine reason.”

Barr. Tope Odeniran noted that the defendants despite the fact that the family had gotten an Injuction against the claimant, they are still working with the Task Force against the Court order.

The defendants in the case are the Lagos State Governor, the State Attorney General and the Permanent Secretary and Bureau of Land and Survey, Lagos State.