By Lukman Olabiyi
Real estate consultant, Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye, has denied allegations making the rounds on the social media and some online publications accusing him of being a land grabber, describing the allegations as malicious and fictitious.
The report claimed that a group, the Centre for Democracy and Socio-Economic Rights, (CEDESER), alleged that Owoeye attacked and destroyed people’s properties, farms and means of livelihood in the Ewekoro Local government Area of Ogun State.
The group, in a statement issued by its President, Popoola Ajayi, also called on the Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the police to take a decisive action on the matter.
Reacting to the reports, Owoeye, in a statement, said there was no iota of truth in the reports and that the facts were deliberately misrepresented to tarnish his image. “There is no iota of truth in that publication, but mere misrepresentation of facts calculated to tarnish my image by mischief makers. For the avoidance of doubt and to set the record straight, I bought the land directly from the original owners of the land. I did not encroach on the land in Onigbedu and Elere as alleged in the false publications,” he said.
Owoeye also denied allegations that he caused chaos and destruction of property of residents, and illegally evicted them from the land.
He stated that a panel that was set up to resolve land dispute, headed by a prominent traditional ruler in Ogun State, had looked into the matter and absolved him of any wrongdoing, adding that the allegations in the false publication were unfounded and fallacious.
Owoeye added: “I, Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye, will not take something that does not belong to me. I am a law-abiding citizen. I like to appeal to the good people of Ogun State and its environs, and other people who might have read the purported story, to know that the allegations were untrue. Also, I want to assure our able governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun, and the law enforcement agencies that I am not in any way involved in land grabbing and I was not hired to invade any community with firearms or whatsoever, or deprived anybody to gain access to their farmland.
“I bought the land from the rightful family that owns the land, all the family members, including heads of the family, sold the land and they appended their signatures in the receipts given to me as evidence of payment, and was given a family receipt.
“The assertions in the publications are false, spurious and preposterous. And I invite the general public, and law enforcement agencies to ignore the cheap antics organised by desperate characters to tarnish my reputation.”