Follow Us on Google
By Sunday Ani
A coalition of civil society organisations (CSOs), in collaboration with the Centre for Citizens Rights, has called for investigation into the allegations against the Chairman of the Youth Forum of Ojomu Royal Family in Lagos State, Hammed Tajudeen.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, the chairman of the coalition, Adeyemi Olorunshogo, said the allegations by the Lagos State Police Command against Tajudeen were baseless.
The coalition threatened to embark on a protest if the police command failed to retract its allegations in the next seven days.
It said: “Consequently, we make the following demands and expect that it will be met in seven days from today, otherwise, we shall proceed on a protest not just against the Commissioner of Police and the Lagos State Police Command, but against other individuals fingered in this whole plot.
“The constitution of a special, neutral and professionally competent investigative team to review the allegations; the prosecution of any persons found to have made false, malicious or fabricated claims and a public retraction of the unlawful declaration portraying Tajudeen as a murderer.
“A suspension in further sale of lands indigenously belonging to Ojomu Royal Family of Ajiran Town in Eti-Osa Local Government Area by a few individuals.
“The retraction of the Lagos State Commissioner of Police from being the one to investigate the matter as he is obviously compromised in this matter.
“We believe this will not be seen as a threat. As a coalition, we will not watch the rights of a people to be taken away or some individuals to use their influence to curry favour or miscarry justice in the name of investigations and prosecution of no offender.
“We trust that the appropriate authorities will urgently intervene to restore confidence in due process, uphold the rule of law and ensure that policing in Lagos State remains professional, impartial and accountable.”
The Coalition alleged that Tajudeen was not given fair hearing before police declaration. “It is important to state clearly that at no time was Alhaji Hammed Tajudeen invited by the police for questioning.
“At no time did he refuse or fail to honour any police invitation. At no time was any warrant of arrest issued against him by a court of competent jurisdiction. At no time was any judicial authorisation or order obtained to declare him wanted.
“Despite these concerns, on February 20, 2026, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, convened a press briefing during which the full image of Tajudeen was displayed and he was publicly accused of sponsoring multiple murders.
“This unilateral and sensational declaration exposed him to public odium, ridicule and severe reputational harm, all without the benefit of due process or the basic courtesy of an invitation for questioning.
“This is nothing but intimidation, attempt to cow and silence strength of a family and a way to call a dog a bad name in other to hang it.
“It is against this backdrop that we consider it imperative to address the public and set the records straight, ensuring that the rights and dignity of all parties are preserved while lawful processes are allowed to run their full and proper course.
“We address you today in defence of the Youth Forum of Ojomu Royal Family of Ajiran Town in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State, a people being attempted to be rubbished, cheated and ill-treated for a blessing given to them by God.
“For the records, the Ojomu Royal Family is historically vested with vast ancestral lands spanning approximately 22 villages, towns and settlements within Lagos State.
“For over 35 years, large portions of these ancestral lands have allegedly been dominated, controlled and sold by certain traditional authorities within the community without transparent accounting to the family or any visible, traceable development accruing to the community from the proceeds of such transactions.
“In recent years, the youths of the family have demanded accountability, transparency and clarity regarding the management and sale of these ancestral lands, particularly in the interest of future generations.
“These legitimate demands, however, were allegedly met with resistance, intimidation and a sustained pattern of petitions written to the police against members of the youth forum led by Tajudeen.
“Available records show that within the last five years alone, more than 25 petitions have been written against members of the youth forum. In each of these cases, investigations were conducted by the police and the allegations were reportedly found to be baseless, frivolous and without merit.
“Despite this history, members of the forum were repeatedly and falsely linked to criminal incidents within and around Ajiran Town, including serious violent crimes, even where there was no factual basis connecting them to such incidents.
“Specifically, reference must be made to the murder of a community member in April 2023 at Moba, a neighbouring settlement.
At the material time, Tajudeen, a prominent community figure and longstanding pillar of support to the ancestral family renowned for his philanthropy, including sponsoring the education of indigent children and making weekly voluntary donations to widows and economically vulnerable members of the royal family and the wider community was outside the country.
“Nonetheless, he and other members of the youth forum in the community were accused. Following investigations by the Lagos State Police Command, they were fully exonerated.”
