The Eyin-Osa community in the Free Trade Zone Parcel B and its resettlement area named Resettlement of Eyin Osa witnessed a protest on Thursday 8th June 2023 as indigenes and residents demonstrated over the case of land grabbing taking place in the Eyin Osa Area of Lagos State.
The protester’s grievances were directed towards ACP Jejeloye of the Lagos Taskforce and Lagos State Security Trust Fund(LSSTF) Boss Dr. Ayo Ogunsan as they were allegedly accused of forcibly taking over Eyin-Osa land for an alleged land grabber known as Murphy Adebare Ademoye known as Topaz Gardens.
Another protest took place at the Lagos High Court, Ikeja aimed to draw attention to the alleged forceful taking over of the Eyin Osa community residents’ lands, and the damaging of properties belonging to Harmony Gardens and Estate Development Limited, which were legitimately bought from the Eyin-Osa Resettlement Committee.
According to Secretary to the Parapo of Abomiti, Yeguda & Eyin-Osa Displaced Communities, Mrs. Apena Adijat said Murphy Adebare Ademoye has become a terror to the indigenes and residents of Eyin-Osa.
“Topaz employed the services of touts and the Lagos State Taskforce to intimidate, assault, and evict the staff of Harmony Gardens, resulting in the demolition of their properties, then erected his billboard on the land that belongs to Harmony Gardens to defraud innocent buyers,”
She, however, called upon the Lagos State Government to intervene and protect the rightful owners of the resettled land, as they possess legitimate Certificates of Occupancy for their respective zones.
It was gathered that the situation escalated when the Baale of Laporu, Eyin-Osa, Chief Waheed, stated that Murphy Adebare Ademoye and his thugs had no legitimate claim to the Eyin Osa land and were pure landgrabbers, engaged by Alhaji M. Shitu A.K.A I no go gree of Epe.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Idowu Owohunwa, in his bid to resolve the conflict, invited all parties involved in the land dispute to his office Yesterday 13th June 2023 at the Police Command Ikeja, Lagos for a hearing.
During the meeting, the alleged grabber Murphy Adebare presented his case, asserting that he had purchased 100 acres of land in Eyin Osa from Alhaji Shittu, the President of Eyin Osa United Kingdom.
However, upon attempting to take possession of the land, he claimed to have been attacked by hoodlums whom he believed were affiliated with Hon. Abdullahi Mosadoluwa and one Alhaji Threeco, though the allegation was swiftly debunked by the former.
Managing Director, Harmony Gardens and Estate Development Limited, Hon. Saheed Abdullahi Mosadoluwa explained that he had legitimately acquired the land as an investor from the Eyin Osa Resettlement Committee while presenting the Eyin Osa Memorandum of Understanding and the Eyin Osa Certificate of Occupancy as evidence of his acquisition.
While, the President of Eyin Osa United Kingdom, Alhaji Shittu claimed that the Lagos State Government had disclaimed any agreement with Topaz Property through a publication in 2021. He conceded that the Certificate of Occupancy had been issued to the Eyin Osa Resettlement Committee and he and his group did not conduct any enumeration.
He, however, expressed his grievance with the Lagos State Government rather than Hon. Dr. Abdullahi S. Mosadoluwa or the Eyin Osa Resettlement Committee.
Hence, Chairman of the Eyin Osa Resettlement Committee, High Chief Olatunde Oluwo emphasized that the Lagos State Government had released the Certificate of Occupancy to the committee, which had conducted enumeration in collaboration with the government. He stated that Alhaji Shittu and his associates did not participate in the enumeration process and thus did not hold any legitimate claim within the Eyin Osa resettlement zone.
CP Owohunwa after carefully considering all parties involved and reviewing the submitted documents stated that Eyin-Osa United Kingdom is not recognized by the Lagos State Government, making any land transactions conducted with this entity invalid.
He emphasized that the Eyin-Osa Resettlement Committee is the legitimate body representing the resettlement land, holding a valid Certificate of Occupancy issued by the government.
The Commissioner acknowledged that Alhaji Shittu and others who sold the land to Topaz had no genuine dispute with the Eyin-Osa Resettlement Committee and their assignees. These individuals had successfully perfected their land titles with the Lagos State Government.
He further stated that Eyin-Osa United Kingdom’s grievance lies with the Lagos State Government, as they have not completed the necessary processes to perfect their title with the government.
CP Owohunwa advised all parties involved to seek an amicable settlement and explore the possibility of resolving the dispute through compromise. While adjourning for another two weeks for the evaluation of events and any progress made in settling the case.
