By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The Ojora Royal Family of Lagos has debunked recent online reports that it sponsored thugs to forcefully eject landlords from their properties in Iganmu Industrial Estate area of Lagos State, describing the allegation as malicious and fictitious.
Reacting to the reports, Ojora family in a statement signed by their lawyers, Chief Bolaji Ayorinde (SAN) and Adenrele Adegborioye, described the publications as misleading and an attempt to smear the unscathed reputation of the family.
The family urged the general public to disregard the publications by Opera News and The Lagos Times dated 12th September 2024 titled “Why IGP Can’t Move Against Lagos Monarch Oba Aromire for Willful Damage of Developed Property’’, and another publication PM Express dated 11th September 2024 titled ‘’Property Owners Call on Lagos Government to Check Oba Aromire’s Excesses.’’
According to the statement, the offensive publications had alleged that Ojora family misconducted themselves unlawfully by hiring thugs armed with dangerous weapons led by policemen and went to occupants of properties along Moshood Abiola Way in Iganmu Industrial Estate to “harass them, threaten to hurt and kill them, steal from them, dislodge them, damage their properties and grab developed properties”.
It was also alleged in the said publication that Ojora family has continued to traumatize occupants of the land through brazen acts of criminality and demanded exorbitant sums of money for ratification of title from property owners within Iganmu Industrial Estate despite the fact that ‘Our Clients have no claim whatsoever to the land’.
However, the family maintained that it has always adhered to the rule of law in defending its land holding and has successfully relied on the landmark Judgement of the Supreme Court in Suit No: SC/54/2005 between Chief Adesina Jinadu & Ors Vs. Chief Israel Esurombi – Aro dated 3rd day of April 2009.
The Royal Family stated that after the delivery of the Judgement by the Supreme Court, the Deputy Sheriff of the High Court of Lagos State gave legal possession of the large expanse of land as shown in Survey Plan drawn by Herbert Macaulay in 1918, upgraded by S.A. Alaka in Plan No. AL/64A/1974 in 1974 and further upgraded by W.T. Adeniji, a licensed Surveyor in the Survey Plan dated 18th November, 1983 to the Ojora Royal Family, pursuant to a Warrant for Possession dated the 31st day of July, 2009 upon which a Certificate of the Execution of the Warrant for Possession was duly issued.
It further added that the decision of the Supreme Court as stated above has been made reference to and cited in the High Court of Lagos State in various cases and other Courts where several persons have unsuccessfully attempted to challenge the rights of Ojora Family over all lands situate at Iganmu, Lagos comprising inter alia: “specifically at Orile Iganmu, Aloko, Savage, Sari Oso-Offin, Osho Olode , Tokosi Coker, Ajagbe, Laniyonu , Tapa , Bankole, Imoru and other adjoining villages shown in Plan No:AL/64A/1974 , Survey Plan dated 1918 prepared by Herbert Macaulay and Survey Plan No: AT/LA/977 dated 18th November 1983 prepared by W.T Adeniji”.
‘’The General Public is hereby informed and advised to ignore any insinuations or publications aforementioned or indeed any publications that our Clients are obnoxious terrorists. Furthermore, any enquiry as to land belonging to the Ojora Royal Family and Council is to be made directly to the Ojora Palace or the Family’s Solicitor, BA LAW LLP, 136, Awolowo Road Ikoyi , Lagos.
‘’This notice is also directed to all persons on Ojora Family Land as covered by the Judgement of the Supreme Court in Suit No: SC/54/2005 to verify their rights to possession if they are yet to do so within 14 days from the date of this publication” the statement added