The families of Alori Kadunmishe of Igbo Ilogbo, Isefun, Ayobo Area of Lagos State has called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State, to restrain a group of Senior Civil Servants in the State operating under the aegis of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria, Lagos State Branch, asking the State Governor, the Attorney General and the Head of Civil Service to compel the group whom they believe are acting for themselves but claiming to be working for the State Government to abide by the last ruling of a Magistrate Court in Ojo.
The call to the Governor was made by their solicitor on behalf of the family through a press conference, where he revealed that hitherto the group of Civil Servants have being coming frequently to the family land, disturbing and threatening the law abiding tenants and owners with orders to vacate the place, asking the Lagos State Governor to restrain the group from making further threats and stop the placement of ‘Notices’ on gates, walls and fences of residents asking them to vacate their properties for the purpose of dredging and excavation activities in the Area.
The solicitor further explained to Journalists that earlier in October 2022, the group instituted a five count charge against Taiwo Anishere, a member of the family and the matter brought before His Honour; Mr. A. A. Adesanya, in the Magistrate Court of Lagos State, Ojo Magistrate Court, with Suit number SOC/LG/A/04A/2022, accusing him: of Conspiration to commit felony; forceful takeover of a property belonging to the Lagos State Government; violent threats with the aim to gain entry into the landed property,
wielding of dangerous weapons such as guns, axes, machetes and other harmful weapons to have entry, forceful takeover and sale of the landed property.
By April 19, 2024, His Honour gave Judgement in his favour, stating thus; “insufficiency of evidence or lacking incredibility of evidence cannot ground a conviction of a criminal offence.
“Suffice to hold that for the above mentioned reasons so far stated above, I am inclined to accede and uphold that No case submission of learned counsel to the defendant.”
The Solicitor recalled that sometimes in 2022, the petitioned Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over disobedience to the order of court and the unlawful destruction of landed properties belonging to the Alori Ataye Ewuwunmi Kadunmishe Chieftaincy family of Igbo Ilogbo Isefun, Ayobo, by the same officials from the state Ministry of Environment and Office of the Surveyor General.
The petition written by the solicitor stated that the family is the owners of the entire parcel of land situate at Ilogbo, Ayobo, Lagos State, with subject matter in Suit No: ID/3274LMW/2016.
Explaining that some years back, the Lagos State government claimed to have acquired the said land without due regards to the provision of the law on acquisition of private properties.
Afterwards, the family approached the court to challenge the purported acquisition with the above suit number which is still pending in court till the date of writing this petition.
In the said suit, Attorney General of Lagos State, Honourable Commissioner for Housing, Lagos State, and the Land Use and Allocation Committee, Lagos State, among others were sued as the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants, respectively.
According to the petitioner, the court in line with the suit ruled on the 24th May, 2017, 12th July, 2019, and 9th February, 2021, that all parties should maintain status quo, to halt further demolition and gave an interlocutory injunction to that effect.
The petitioner stressed that despite the rulings, the Lagos State Ministry of Environment and the Office of the Surveyor General are still threatening them with thugs, urchins and some members of the law enforcement agency without name tags in flagrant disobedience to the order of court to demolish and destroy properties with heavy equipment, tractors and armoured tanks.
