By Lukman Olabiyi
Residents of Sangotedo, Eti-Osa Local Government, Lagos State, have cried out to the state government to come to their rescue, following the alleged demolition of their property by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) officials.
The Olufunmi Eshilokun Royal Family of Sangotedo town, which raised the alarm, said one Percio Property Company, accompanied by LASBCA officials, were behind the demolition in the area.
The Olu of Sangotedo Kingdom, Oba Mohammad Akorede, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, said the urgent intervention of the state government would forestall total economic ruins, destruction and demolitions of their property constructed with hard earned money.
Oba Akorede, in a statement by Prince Halidu Olufunmi, Head and Olori-Ebi of the Olufunmi Eshilokun Royal Family, said: “The Olufunmi Eshilokun Royal family are the owners and overlords of large parcel of land situate at Sangotedo Town in the Eti-Osa East LCDA.
“The family became owners by the fact that the town was first settled on and founded by their Progenitor Prince Olufunmi, the second child of Oba Esilokun, the fourth Oba of Lagos, while looking for his legendary senior brother, Oba Kosoko, who left Lagos during the Obaship crisis and civil war that broke in Lagos between him and his uncle Oba Akitoye.
“The fact that Prince Olufunmi was the first settler in Sangotedo and that his descendants, the OlufunmiEsilokun Royal family ownership of the adjoining and large parcel of land at Sngotedo town, is confirmed, amongst others, by the judgment of Justice E. Ajao-Oshodi in suit No. Ld/328/76 Alhaja Barakat Olufunmi & Ors. V Yakubu Olufunmi & Anor.
“Sometimes in 2021, a company, Percio Property Company Limited, instituted suit No. LD/10877LMW/2021 V Alhaji Musiliu Abidemi Onikoyi & Ors., against our family and other families from Egan Anidu, Oko-Eledu, the Lagos State government and other agencies of the state government, claiming to have been allocated large parcel of land measuring 67.001 hectares.
“This bogus claim includes the Olopa Metta village excised to the Olufunmi family, by the Lagos State government excision, measuring an area of 10.035 hectares of land, the land is covered by Survey Plan No. LS/D/LA3487, tracing No. LS/T/LA3487 signed by Beyioku O.W Surveyor Grade 1, on 11/7/2014, counter-signed by O.A Sangowawa, government surveyor, on 11/7/2014 and signed by Joseph Agbenla, the Surveyor-General of Lagos State, on 27/2/2015.
“These areas of land are in the possession of the family, part of which have been granted and allocated to some family members, who have constructed property on the land and other parts of which the family, in the exercise of the family ownership rights, have sold and granted to their privies and tenants, respectively.
“LASBCA, invaded our land, claimed to be demolishing buildings and structures without no building permits and approvals, without service of contravention notices as provided for by its law and government regulations. The demolition and destruction are still ongoing at the time of this statement on March 10, 2024. It also amazed the family, why a government agency would be carrying such demolitions.
“Also, attempts by the family members and those who owned property on the land, who have been forcefully displaced from their property with their families, without being allowed to take their belongings, have been met with threats,” he added.