IKORODU LAND CONFLICT,AGENT CALLS AMBODE'S ATTENTION TO RULE OF LAW

Alhaji Kamorudeen Lamina, the alleged landgrabber in Ikorodu area of Lagos state, has denied the allegations against him by the state governor, Akinwunmi Ambode.

Governor Ambode had in an order last  Wednesday, July 22, ordered the Task Force under the regional urban planning and physical planning in conjunction with Ministry of Agriculture of the state, to recover 250 acres of land from Lamina.

Alhaji Lamina, popularly known as Sir K, explained that he bought the supposed acres of land which the governor ordered the task force to recover, and was neither troubled by Babatunde Fashola, the immediate past governor of the state, nor his predecessor, Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu.

“I have known our governors in the state to be very understanding and I was taken aback when we heard that the governor asked the Task Force to recover 250 acres of land from land grabbers in Ikorodu, with my name being mentioned.

“We did not do anything wrong and I am sure that our lawyer is already on this matter since the announcement was made on Wednesday,” he explained.

Barrister Tunji Busari, legal counsel to the families involved in the latest development, also noted that a judgment by the Supreme Court in 1971 is what they have been following, and therefore do not believe that the government was right with the recent pronouncement.

In a petition written to the governor and made available to our correspondent, the legal solicitor stated: “We are Solicitors to Oyega and Oyegbemiga Descendant Family of Ikorodu axis of Lagos State (hereinafter called “our client”) and on whose behalf we write our excellency this petition in a swift reaction to the publication published at the instance of the Task Force under regional urban planning and physical planning in conjunction with Ministry of Agriculture of Lagos state.

“Our Clients informed us and we verily believe it as follows: that our clients were drawn to the two National dailies of the Punch Newspaper and Nigerian Tribune with the above captions- Ambode Orders recovery of 250-Acres land from Ikorodu Land Grabber dated 22nd day of July, 2015 respectively.

“That our client Oyega and Oyegbemiga is the ancestral and radical owner of the parcel of the said land being, lying and situated at Gbodo village, via Abule Eko, Ikorodu axis of Lagos state.

Alhaji Kamorudeen Lamina, the alleged Ikorodu landgrabber, who has denied the claims. Photo: Damilare Okunola

“That the family ownership was further affirmed by the supreme court judgment no: SC/83/1971 arising from the judgment of the high court of Lagos state in suit no: IK/IA/68 between Aina Oga and Ors vs Oyega & Oyegbemiga family.”

While rejecting allegations that his client is a land grabber, Mr. Busari noted that Sir K’s company, Global Ventures Nigeria Limited, being alleged to have stolen the parcels of land, legitimately purchased the land at Gbodo Village via Abule Eko, Ikorodu.

He also referenced Shoreman Agro Ventures Ltd under its chairman, Mohammaed Taofiq Elebute, as being responsible for the attempted recovery of the landed properties after previously failing under the immediate past governor.

“The therefore enjoins Mr. Ambode to tread this path softly because of His Excellency’s respect for the rule of law and the Montesiquieu’s doctrine of separation of powers in the Nigerian constitution.

“Our client challenges that Shoreman Agro and Alhaji Elebute are trespassers before a Lagos High Court in suit no: IKD/80/2005 with a grand legal reprisal attack conducing into various criminal charges and arraignment,” Busari explains further.

Some family members of the Oyega and Oyegbemiga family, alleged to have occupied portions of land illegally. Photo: Damilare Okunola

The family claimed that there are valid documents to show their ownership of the portions of land they were alleged to have taken over unlawfully and also appealed to the governor not to allow anybody cause injustice.