The Nigeria Police Force, Zone 2 Command headquarters at Onikan, has
commenced investigations into an alleged land grab, malicious damage, encroachment, trespass and threat to life, in what has signposted one of the biggest land-grabbing deals in Okegun-Odofin via Elerangbe area on the outskirts of Lagos in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The plots of land involved over 2,000 acres and the mischief is allegedly being spearheaded by a well-known land grabber, Ismail Ogunkoya, who doubles as the village Baale (Community Head) with one of his cohorts, Wale Fatai, a.k.a JOGOH and others at large.
The Police have invited them via letters, dated 30th of April 2024, for interviews to unravel the circumstances that surrounded the malicious damage to property, and the illegal perimeter fence on the said mass of land, using Ajagungbale (land warriors), OPC boys and some Lagos Police Rapid response squad (RRS) nearby to protect the grab while construction of new perimeter fence is ongoing.
Report said that Ogunkoya had consistently denied involvement in the deal and had pointed the finger at some officials from the New Town Development Authority [NTDA] as being the brains behind the takeover.
His claim, according to feelers, was that he was only contracted to supply over fifty
thousand blocks at 1,000 naira each, bags of cements, sand, labour and other construction materials to the site, without yet any documentary evidence from government.
The attempt to take over the entire mass of land with the attendant destruction of
over 800 houses that would follow and other undeveloped property in the area
has heightened tension with property owners vowing a violent showdown with the
usurpers.
It is feared that the violent showdown may lead to loss of valuable property and loss of innocent lives.
The letters of invitation to the actors in the crisis were issued from the office of Assistant Inspector General
of Police, and signed by DCP Ajao S. Adewale, a deputy commissioner of police
(ZCID) on behalf of the AIG Zone 2 headquarters Onikan, Lagos.
A stakeholder in the community said the question begging for an answer was how a Baale who was already touting himself as His Royal Majesty [Oba], without a staff of office, could tell house owners to take photographs in front of their houses and submit to him to determine compensation when he’s not a registered valuer or representing Lagos State government interest.
The stakeholders said that the Baale was also a supplier on the site.
A source close to the development said: “It is now an open secret that there is more to it than meets the eyes; a developer is already in top discussions with Ismaila Ogunkoya and his partner Wale Fatai a.k.a JOGOH and others to buy this mass of land from them with the connivance of some already compromised top government officials in Alausa to help facilitate
government allocation on the said property.
“It’s on record that similar occurrence happened the same time last year almost in the same area where one Abiodun Raji, a generator mechanic was killed, his house destroyed with five other recorded deaths, paving the way for Tiwa Homes and Garden, an Estate developer, to take over.
“Presently, the property is under sale by the developer.
“These land grabbers have made enormous wealth in the act while using the name
and influence of a retired Supreme Court judge who is also a former Nigerian
Ambassador and a first class mornach in Epe Local Government axis to hoodwink unsuspecting victims on property sale, despite having several court
cases on land matters hanging on his neck in various courts.”
The source said that the property/land owners were appealing to the amiable peace and kind-hearted Governor of Lagos State Mr. Babajide Sanwoolu, to immediately investigate this matter at this early stage to rein in government officials involved in the alleged land allocation scandal to serve as punishment and deterrent to others while bringing all the alleged grabbers involved to book.
“It is also a thing of interest that the police zonal command would do a discreet, thorough investigation, and, carry out, if need be, necessary visits to government parastatals to ascertain and verify all documents tendered to prove or disprove claims, in the interest of fairness, equity and justice so that peace would return to the area in earnest.
“The hope is that the matter will not be swept under the carpet, since the next police interrogation comes up on Tuesday, 7th May, 2024, involving all concerned parties to the crisis”.
