Lawyer debunks alleged attack on disputed land, petitions police
A Lagos based lawyer, Ebiwonjumi Obatayo has dismissed the allegations that the police and military acted in favour of his client, an estate developer, Otunba Kamorudeen Lamina in the invasion of a disputed land at Oke Eletu, Ikorodu, Lagos.
Obatayo also petitioned the Inspector General of Police (IGP), over the activities of an alleged land grabber in the area.
Another lawyer, Mr. Dayo Abudu had earlier petitioned the police and the army, claiming that personnel of Operation MESA (OP MESA), made up of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Police Special Anti- Robbery Squad (SARS), raided Oke Eletu, assaulted and dislodged persons from their lands at the instance of Lamina.
But Obatayo said the allegations are spurious. According to him, a notorious land grabber who paraded thugs and hoodlums with dangerous weapons at Ginti, a neighbouring community where his client has his residence was responsible.
He said: “There is a valid interlocutory injunction against him in favour of the head and Principal members of Banjoko Ogidi family of Ginti village in suit No. IKD/ 7551LMW/18 delivered by Justice L.B. Lawal Akapo on December 2, 2019.”
He said the alleged land grabber has invaded the community several times, stationed thugs on the land and sent away family members from the village, noting that attempts to challenge the attacks were unsuccessful due to the man’s wide connection with some senior police officers who aided and abetted his criminal acts.
“The recent attack by him, his thugs and hoodlums at Ginti was bloody. It was due to quick intervention of police from the state SARS, Ipakodo Annex, Ikorodu that rescued the situation. Two of his thugs were arrested with guns and had been charged to court,” he said.
The lawyer said on March 3, the fellow was charged to Ijede Magistrate Court, Ikorodu on a 4 count of criminal offences, but the Area ‘N’ command, Ijede received signal from X-Squad, Force CID, Abuja to transfer the case file. Obatayo said officers from Abuja visited the command to physically attempt transfer of the case file.
“In retaliation of their unsuccessful attempt, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) and his team leader were invited to Abuja, detained and queried.
The petitioner charged the police boss to remove officers who aided and abetted the violence from the Force and bring the man and his associates to book to redeem the image of the Police.
Chairman, Oke Eletu Land Monitoring Committee, Pastor Oluremilekun Ajalogun, head, Shogba family, Oke Eletu, Oludayo Awolate Osikoya, General Secretary, Oke Eletu community, Oluwatosin Onamade and the Eletu of Oke Eletu elect, High Chief Adeniyi Omotayo Ajayi supported the petitioner’s claim.