Members of the Oyetubo Jokotade family in the Sangotedo area of Ajah and their allotees have protested against what they described as a disregard to a court ruling by the Lagos State Government.
The family members and the alllotees ,who were armed with placards, on Wednesday protested against the continued occupation of their land by heavilly armed policemen.
They also accused the government and its agencies of demolishing about thirty houses ,despite having the Governor’ s Consent on the demolished buildings.
The protesters also called the state governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu to stop the Lagos State Task Force from harassing them and their allottees.
The protesters who were adorned with different placards with inscriptions such as : Lagos State government stop contempt , Taskforce leave our land, stop terrosing us , Governor Sanwo-Olu uphold democracy value, Lagos State please let’s us breath.”
A member of the family, Saliu Tajudeen ,while speaking with journalists ,during the protest ,stated that some persons are using the name of he Lagos State Government to hijack about elven hectares of land from the family’s property.
He said ” Our family under the agesis of Oyetubo Jokotade Estate Management which comprises of three families has been managing our properties which was over 200 hectares of land decided to reserve 11 hectares.
“We allotted some portions to some people but to our surprise, some hijackers hiding under the state government took over our land claiming that they are acting on the instructions of the governor.
“He continued that we took the matter to court and an Interlocutory Injunction was granted pending the determination of the case.”
The family member added that, “Surprisingly , some people under the New Town Development Authority took over our land and demolished our houses.
“Although, the Lagos State Government has denied any involvement in the occupation of out land and we believe that ..That is why we are calling on the governor to step into the matter and stop the hijackers from using police from harrassing us and the allotees.”
He pleaded that “We urge Governor Sanwo-Olu to intervene so as to avoid breakdown of law and order in the area. Because we don’t want trouble.”
Chief Jamiu Akinsemoye also called on the Lagos State Government to urgently investigate what he described as attempts to grab their land by using the name of the government.
Chief Akinsemoye said “We approach the court and an Interlocutory injunction was granted . We abide by the order, but surprisingly the Lagos State government and some hijackers encroached on our land and brought in police taskforce, chasing, beating, and harrassing our family members.
“Some of the allotees have gotten the Lagos State Governor’s Consent, We want the state government to hands off from our property.”
The community head also stated that, “The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State , Idowu Owohunwa, Gov Sanwo-Olu and other authorities concerned should help us . We are the rightful owner of the land. The hijackers are using the office of the governor to perpetrate the crime.”
Counsel to the family, Tope Odeniran described the continued occupation of the land by armed policemen, who were drafted there by the defendants as a disregard and abuse of the law.
