Ondo: First Class King, Deji Of Akure, Developer Tango Over Land Ownership

By Ayodele Oni

Allegations of land grabbing and illegal installation of Chiefs continue to trail the reign of the Deji of Akure in Ondo state, Oba Aladelusi Aladetoyinbo, who is also Chairman, State Council of Traditional Rulers.

The latest accusation is from the Chief Executive Officer of a construction company, Ademola Akin-Benson, who alleged that Oba Aladetoyinbo is disrupting the ongoing building work at Federal Housing Estate, Alagbaka, Akure.

Of recent, the Igbatoro road axis of Akure has witnessed upsurge in the number of housing estates built by either the Federal Government or private developers.

The ongoing construction work at Medaville Estate has pitched the company against the Deji of Akure, over the ownership of a portion of the land which resulted to litigation.

According to a paper presented by the Counsel to Medaville Building Construction, the Court granted the company’s prayer to continue with the project while the case continues.

And now, the company through its Chief executive director, Ademola Akin-Benson, has raised an alarm that the Deji has violated a subsisting Court order by allegedly sponsoring thugs to disrupt activities on the site on daily basis.

He said the Monarch is demanding for some portion of the land which, according to him, does not fall within his jurisdiction

The official claimed that two motorbikes, laptop, working tools, among other items were carted away during the week when suspected hoodlums invaded the site which has become a daily occurence.

Counsel to the Company, Femi Emodamori explained that Security Agencies as well as  the State Government are involved in the project.

However, a spokesman of the Deji, Michael Adeyeye, denied the allegation saying, the construction company is going beyond the allotted space and the Palace would not fold its arms and allow abnormality to take place in the community.

Adeyeye, who is Press Secretary to Deji, claimed that there are three hectres meant for a shrine within the construction area which the Federal Government is aware of. That is the crux of the matter.

Efforts made by our correspondent to get the reaction of both the Police Command and the State Government were not yet successful at the time of filing this story which may likely cause a breach of peace in Akure.