Lagos land tussle takes twist as family lays claim to area

The last may not have been heard on the disputed land in Ikeja, Lagos State, which has threatened over 2,000 houses following a new claim by the family of the late Emmanuel Oyedele Ashamu over the weekend.

Daily Trust had reported that hundreds of residents and property owners at Agidingbi, Ikeja, were left in confusion as the Akinole-Oshiun family moved to take possession of the 398-acre land following a Supreme Court judgment.

In a brief, the Akinole-Oshiun family representative, Tunde Adeyemi, the Vice Chairman of DHTL Capital Management Limited, said: “It has come to our knowledge of the recent publications and circulations on the above supposed judgement, possession and recovery efforts by the family in their case against the Lagos State Government (especially in Daily Trust Newspaper of April 27, 2019, and the Independent Newspaper of May 2, 2019). Hence, we will like to put the record straight on the Ashamu family interest within the same claimed areas.”

Adeyemi who congratulated the Akinole- Oshiun family on the legal victory, however, affirmed that major parts of the land in Alausa, Agidingbi and Magodo belonged to the family of late Chief Emmanuel Oyedele Ashamu, which he said was acquired over 50 years ago.

While showing Daily Trust the document of sale and the Supreme Court judgment in that regard dating back to 1973, he explained that the Akinole-Oshiun family transferred its interest on the land to the Ashamus after fully paying for it and that same was registered with the Lagos State Government.

He cautioned all the legal and illegal occupants of the land within Alausa, Agidingbi and environs to clarify with the family before dealing with anyone further on the land.

He said: “On the case of Akinole’s Family Judgment and entitlement to the land in Agidingbi: In 1973, when there was a further dispute between the Ashade Family (the original owner of the land that sold to the late Chief Emmanuel Ashamu) and the Akinole family, the late Chief Ashamu persuaded the Ashade family not to go to court, but that he would deal with the family on their claim to the Agidingbi land. The Akinoles made it clear in the meeting with Chief Ashamu that they were not really in the land but would need money.

“So, an agreement was struck between the parties on the matter and they (Akinole family) appointed their lawful attorneys by virtue of the power of attorney dated 30 June 1973 and registered as No. 32 on Page 32 in Volume 1425 of the Land Registry in the office at Lagos. These lawful attorneys, with the knowledge and consent of the whole family, later executed a Deed of Assignment in favour of late Chief Emmanuel Ashamu, having agreed to a sum of money paid to them on the execution of the document. This Deed of Assignment was dated 3 August 1973 and registered as No. 33 on Page 33 in volume 1432 of the Lands Registry in the office in Lagos.”

Meanwhile, a plea to rescue Agidingbi Community from the matter generating into a chaos by the threats and actions of the Akinole-Oshiun family, has gone out to the Governor of Lagos State from the Baale of Agidingbi.

The plea in a letter, which was read during a protest, read in part; “On behalf of the community and people of Agidingbi, it has become necessary to intimate your good office, as the chief security officer of the state, on the looming danger, threat, actions been orchestrated by a family called the Akinole-Oshiun Family towards causing mayhem, as well as disturbing the peace of Agidingbi, a community that has enjoyed considerable peace over the years. This threat is aided by some compromised security agents who accompanied them (Akinole-Oshiun family) to threaten the lives and property of inhabitants of the state on the 26 of April, 2019.

“Although, it is no longer a hidden fact that the Aleshinloye family owns the Agidingbi lands, albeit under acquisition of the state government, yet it is strange to see that the Akinole-Oshiun family lays spurious claims of the whole lands in the community, with threat to destroy lives and property of inhabitants in the community, as well as bulldoze and destroy buildings and property in the community within seven days. This threat is said to be founded on claims of an unknown judgment to be enforced on the property within the community and shall take effect on the 2 of May 2019.”