Human Rights Group under the auspices of Civil Society Stakeholders, under the platform of Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights, CHSR, has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to address the continuous threats to public peace following the unlawful activities of land grabbers in Ojomu Community, also referred to as Ajiran Land in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of the State.
The Group said the situation in Ajiran Land is perilous and there is an urgent need for the State Government to address the situation in earnest before it gets out of hand.
At a Press Briefing by the President of CHSR, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, the Group said it deemed it necessary to address the Media to keep them abreast of the situation of things in the Community and is demanding urgent actions from relevant authorities in Lagos State as well as Security Agencies and other relevant institutions should take.
He said that the intervention of Civil Society Stakeholders became imperative to put an end to the reckless abuse of human rights, malicious disobedience of constituted authorities as well as brazen disregard for the laws of Lagos State as enforceable in line with the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Omotehinse said that the intervention of the civil society stakeholders has become pertinent to forestall further disorderliness in the Community in the interest of public peace.
The statement titled, “Situation in Ojomu Community (AJIRAN LAND) and need for urgent intervention”, reads, “CHSR has received a number of complaints bordering on activities of land grabbers who overtime have become atrocious in Ojomu community otherwise known as AJIRALAND. The various petitions by concerned stakeholders regarding the worrisome activities of land grabbers in AJIRAN LAND have been extensively reviewed by Civil Society Groups under the platform of CHSR.
“These petition include those forwarded to the Nigeria Police as well as Ministries, Agencies and critical actors of Lagos State Government namely; (The Executive Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Chief of Staff to the Governor of Lagos State, Honourable Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Honourable Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, General Manager, Lagos State Building Control Agency, Coordinator, Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers).
“Copies of these petitions made available to CHSR included a letter forwarded to the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba on December 12, 2022 by OBA OF LAGOS, HIS ROYAL MAJESTY OBA RILWANU AKIOLU. The letter titled: REQUEST FOR SPECIAL URGENT INTERVENTION (REF: OOL/017/VOL.III/374 decried the alarming unlawful activities of land grabbers under the coordination of Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen and demanded the intervention of Nigeria Police in curbing the menace.
“Equally important to mention is the petition was forwarded to the Inspector General of Police earlier on December 8, 2022 from FADESERE & CO (legal practitioners) on behalf of HRM OBA AKINLOYE TIJANI SATERU II OF AJIRAN LAND and the BALOGUN OF AJIRAN LAND, ALHAJI YEKINI CHIEF OLAWALE BAKARE regarding harassment, hooliganism, threats to life and conducts likely to cause breach of public peace in the community.
“It is however unfortunate that no concrete action has been taken by both Lagos State Government and the Nigeria Police to put Ahmed Tajudeen and other land grabbers in check”.
The Group alleged that the activities of land grabbers in the community is led by one Ahmed Tajudeen, who is said to have engage in wanton harassment of rightful allottees and criminal trespass on legitimately acquired lands in flagrant violation of the extant laws of Lagos State.
Omotehinse said that It is indeed alarming that the activities of Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen are in total disregard for the authority of the traditional institution of AJIRAN LAND vested in the office of Oba of AJIRAN LAND, His Royal Highness, OBA AKINLOYE TIJANI SATERU II.
He said that Under the coordination of Tajudeen, these land grabbers circumvent legitimate land documentations that bear the seal of Lagos State Ministry of Lands and the Consent of the authority of Governor of Lagos State as provided for under the land acquisition procedures of Lagos State.
More disturbing however is that the illegitimate activities of the said Tajudeen are in blatant negation of existing valid agreements between land owners and the bonafide family in Ojomu community.
CHSR said it is however concerned that the masterminds of the disturbance in Ojomu communities are acting contrary to the orders and authorities of legally constituted and recognised traditional institution of AJIRAN LAND who are the legitimate custodians of culture and heritage of AJIRAN LAND as vested under the Lagos State Obas and Chiefs Law of 1981.
More so, the activities of these land grabbers are in flagrant contravention of extant law of Lagos State; notably the Lagos State Property Protection Law of 2016 with respect to land grabbing. It is important to note that Section 2 (1) of the Lagos State Property Protection Law specifically prohibits “the use of force or self-help by anyone to take over any landed property or engaging in any act inconsistent with the proprietary rights of the owner of any landed property in Lagos State”.
It also brought out the particulars of two of the land grabbing cases reviewed following complaints and formal request for intervention from representatives of traditional authorities and community leaders well as other victims of incessant and unbridled harassments, criminal trespass are provided as follows:
- A LAND SITUATED AT PLOT 23, block LXXIX, MUNICIPALITY ON 18, KAMAL SHASHI STREET, BAKARE ESTATE, AGUNGI, LEKKI.
It is been alleged that the land on which the above property under reference belonging to Alhaji Babatunde Shonubi was legally acquired by virtue of DEED OF ASSIGNMENT dated February 25, 2010 and registered with Reference Number; 45/45/2264 at the Lands Registry, Alausa Ikeja.
The land under reference was alleged to have been forcefully taken over by land grabbers who have since commenced Illegal construction of a two storrey building.
- A LAND SITUATED AT PLOT 7, BLOCK LXXIX, ON OJOMU CHIEFTAINCY FAMILY LAND, AJIRAN WITH GOVERNOR CONSENT UNDER THE LAND USE ACT (C.A.P 202 OF 1990) LAND USE REGULATION 1982
The land on which property the above property under reference belonging to Mrs. Georgina Omolara Afolaranmi was legally acquired by virtue of DEED OF ASSIGNMENT DATED MAY 6, 2014.
The land under reference was forcefully taken over by land grabbers who have since completed Illegal construction in spite of valid documents duly obtained by bonafide owners of the property.
According to the statement, “The two cases cited above speak to the brutal lawlessness and victimization orchestrated. with reckless abandon by land grabbers led by Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen against hundreds of innocent citizens who legitimately acquired lands in Ojomu community with proper documentation duly approved and signed by agencies of Lagos State Government”.
The CHSR is alleging that relevant authorities in the State has failed, particularly the Lagos State Government to call the known land grabbers to order as high disappointing.
“It is apposite to emphasise that the continued activities of these land grabbers portend glaring indictment of Lagos State Government.
“The continued unlawful activities of these land grabbers clearly repudiate the spirit and letters of the Lagos State Property Protection Law which prohibits activities forceful and illegal occupation of land legitimately acquired by citizens.
Therefore, the CHST is demanding that both the Lagos State Government and Nigeria Police should put an end to harassment of authentic allottees and rightful owners of lands in Ojomu community and by extension AJIRAN LAND.
It also added that it is calling out the Governor Sanwo Olu led Lagos State Government for failing to protect legitimate authority of traditional institution in AJIRAN LAND against the reckless insubordination of land grabbers.
“We urge Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to reverse the ugly situation and restore the honour and pride deserved by the legally recognised custodians of culture and heritage of AJIRAN LAND.
“We urge Governor Sanwo-Olu to investigate incidents relating to the threats to lives of HRM OBA AKINLOYE TIJANI SATERU II OF AJIRAN LAND, the BALOGUN OF AJIRAN LAND, ALHAJI YEKINI CHIEF OLAWALE BAKARE and members of their families which for the basis of the petition forwarded to the Inspector General of Police on December 8, 2022.
“We demand that Lagos State Government should investigate allegations of forgery of DEED OF ASSIGNMENT and other land related documents duly authorized and signed with the authority of Ojumu family as well as Lagos State land documents.
“We demand that Lagos State Government should urgently investigate human rights abuses being perpetrated by land grabbers in Ojomu community including intimidation and ostracizing of certain sons of Ojomu community by Mr. Ahmed Tajudeen.
“We demand urgent and concrete action against unlawful activities of land grabbers in Ojomu community with the view to put an end to the menace forthwith, and also we urge Governor Sanwo-Olu to give immediate directives to relevant agencies to enforce the cessation of illegal activities of land grabbers in Ojomu community”.
It also call on the Inspector General of Police to direct the Lagos State Command to ensure that the rights of innocent citizens are not trampled forthwith in Ojomu community in the interest of justice and peace.
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