By Christopher Oji
Residents of Fayemi Close, lbitoye, lgbesa Igbehin streets, all in llasa, lsolo Local Government Area of Lagos State, have sent a save-our-souls to the governor and the attorney-general of the state to rescue them from the hands of the management of Mojec International Limited, which was allegedly terrorising residents .
They alleged that there was a pending case between the community and firm Mojec International Limited, in which the court asked the parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the case.
The residents claimed, to the contrary, the company has started work on the disputed land.
The residents also alleged that at one time, the police supervised the demolition of six buildings, including those of Pastor John Onyekwere, Blessing Olasukanmi and Mrs. Rebecca Obamulire, in outright disregard to a court order that the status quo be maintained, adding that landlords who protested the action were beaten up and bundled into a Black Maria stationed there.
They are of the opinion that, if the court does not intervene, the company would start massive occupation of the land in dispute.
The residents said they bought some parcels of land in the 1960s to 1980s and had been living in peace, until the firm came to the area, claiming that former military administrator of Lagos State, Col. Raji Rasaki, gave Mojec the land.
The residents said that some of them had certificate of occupancy from the state government and had already built their houses, while others were doing their buildings’ foundations when the owner of the company surfaced and started laying claim to the land.
One of the landowners, Mrs. Tayo Obamonire, said, “We bought the land from the reputable family of lsiba of Onitire with receipts. The family is also with us in this battle. We went to court in respect of the claim by the company. So, the court gave a subsisting order that everyone should maintain the status quo till the determination of the suit. As law-abiding citizens, we have been obeying the court’s order but Mojec International felt that it has money and it cannot obey the court’s order that is why we have decided to raise the alarm that the company has come with heavy-duty machines they are drilling something on the disputed land, which the court had told the parties to leave pending the determination of the suit.
“We are, therefore, bringing to the notice of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the court that the company has disobeyed the court’s order by bringing machines and other equipment with which they are drilling on the land.
“The development can cause breach of public peace, but we don’t want to take the law in our own hands, hence we have decided to inform the government and other authorities concerned that trouble is looming in the place because an individual feels he is bigger than the court.
“In 1978, that was how they came, but the court awarded a fine in my favour and against the owner of the company. Though he didn’t pay the fine, he left the place and that gave us the impetus to start building our houses.
Mine had reached lintel level when they came again in 2017 and started pulling down houses, and my house where some tenants were living in the backyard was demolished. They came in company with heavily armed policemen from Lagos State Task Force office Oshodi. The policemen beat up landlords and put one of us in a Black Maria. We have seen different kinds of intimidation in the hands of the owner of the company. When the man who claimed the land belonged to him died, the children arrested me, claiming that I killed him, but I was exonerated as the police after investigation said the man died a natural death.
“The court, which ordered the parties to maintain the status quo, has adjourned the case till January 31, 2024. So, we are wondering why the company is using the land that the court has said the parties should vacate pending the determination of the case. We have cried to the government to come to our aide as we have no power to fight the company and, if the government fails to intervene, it will be great injustice to us. They are using the land.”
Another landlord, Ita Elijah, wants the urgent intervention of the government to stop the company from building anything on the disputed land, saying the court had asked the parties to vacate the land pending the determination of the suit, adding that it would be a serious slap on the court that an individual would disobey its order.
However, in reaction to the claims, Mojec International, represented by Christabel Iremhinmhen, company secretary/head of legal services, said, “People should not take the community seriously as they were the ones who first disobeyed a subsisting court order because most of the buildings that are standing tall in the areas mentioned were not there when the case started.
“I want to let you know that if they have a court order, it is not a subsisting order. The community is complaining that we flouted the court’s order; they were the ones who flouted the order. At the time they developed the area, there was a restraining order, a subsisting injunction. They also flouted the order. Their hands are dirty. They are using delay tactics. We have brought evidence and they don’t want to open their case. They keep amending and amending documents. A government official has even given evidence in the court in our favour. We have no problems. They are lying. The government is our witness.
“Our case is strong, that is why the government is our witness. We have C of O, so the land belongs to us. We are ready for anything. As for the dredging on the land, I am not aware of that, but even if there are people doing something on the land, they had in the past violated the court order, because, to go to equity, you must go with a clean hands. We are waiting for them to open their defense.”