The Olubadan of Ibadanland, His Imperial Majesty, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, Arusa 1, has stated that the Palace needs legal backing to overcome land grabbers that have been disturbing the peace of the ancient city.
Oba Ladoja, who made the call in Ibadan on Wednesday while receiving the report of the Niyi Akintola Anti-landgrabbing Committee at the Olubadan Palace, Oke- Aremo, Ibadan, contended that it is do-able.
According to the first class monarch, the proposed legal framework would entail passing of bye-laws by our local government councillors, in accordance with the Land Use Act to spell out the creation of special tribunals that would give accelerated hearing to cases of landgrabbing in Ibadan, and specify sanctions.
“We have come to a situation where suspected landgrabbers should know that enough is enough. We were investigating a land matter in this palace last week. Somebody brought what he called a 1912 Supreme Court judgement to say that the land at Alapa to Maamu, Oluyole Local Government belonged to his family. And we told him that Northern and Southern Nigeria were amalgamated in 1914. Your court judgement predates Nigeria. Therefore, it is fake.1912 to 2025 is over 100 years. A lawyer amongst us was asking him if he didn’t know that it is wrong to seek to implement court judgement after 10 years it was delivered. Same thing with fake survey plans and funny, petitions.
“How can somebody living in Ibadan, sell off some people’s land in Ibadan and use an address in Osogbo to petition the Police Inspector-General in Abuja to allege threat to life, gun running and terrorism? I think there should be a punishment against fake petitioners.” Oba Ladoja declared.
According to Olubadan, the tremendous amount of public interest generated by the committee made the composition of the proposed tribunals with men and women of proven integrity imperative.
Oba Ladoja said it is difficult to estimate the amount of damage done to Ibadan investment climate as a result of perennial cases of landgrabbing.
At the report presentation witnessed by the Balogun of Ibadanland; Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, Otun Balogun; Oba Kola Adegbola,
Osi Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, and Asipa Balogun, Oba Azeez Agagagugu, the Olubadan also promised to take drastic action against Mogajis, Baales and other chiefs implicated in land grabbing cases.
The monarch however commended the Committee members for their competence and integrity, “saying Ibadan is collectively proud of you and grateful”.
Apart from the chairman, other committee members, who received royal commendation include; Barr. Yinka Okunade, Barr. Akeem Aponmode, Barr. Tunji Thomas and Barr. Abiodun Abdul-Raheem.
Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), said the Committee received 179 memoranda, with 25 or 26 others with the Palace Secretary, describing landgrabbers as cabals with an extensive network of connections within vital organs of government and extra-ministerial departments.
“This was why we engaged the State Government, Local Government Chairmen, police,
lawyers, judges, town planners, surveyors, Ministry of Lands, estate developers, Baales, Mogajis etc. Your Imperial Majesty, we don’t want to pronounce judgement but the system stinks.” Chief Akintola lamented.
A statement issued by Olubadan’s media aide, Adeola Oloko, quoted Chief Akintola to have stated that the memoranda received from outside Ibadan were however returned to the senders because Ibadan was the committee’s coverage area.
