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By Damiete Braide
The Oloto of Otto and Lagos Mainland Kingdom, Oba Bashir Abisoye Odesanya Olupejobi II, has intervened in a land dispute between businessman Aare Tomori Williams and the children of the Suleoba family over a property at Kadara Marina, Ebute Metta, Lagos, in a bid to restore peace between the parties.
The intervention followed a peace meeting held at the monarch’s palace on Friday, October 23, where representatives of both parties presented their positions on the disputed property.
At the meeting, the Suleoba family, represented by a man identified as Ibrahim, outlined its grievances, while a representative of Williams presented documents relating to the alleged purchase of the property from its previous owners.
Oba Odesanya expressed concern over allegations against Williams circulated on social media, describing the development as unfortunate. He warned that making public accusations without due regard for the law could expose those responsible to possible defamation and cyberbullying claims.
The monarch advised the Suleoba family to pursue traditional and other appropriate channels of dispute resolution rather than resorting to social media to air its grievances.
He noted that Williams could have sought legal redress over the allegations but expressed optimism that the dispute could be resolved amicably.
The traditional ruler also disclosed that Williams had worked with the Oloto family before his ascension to the throne. He described the businessman as the only person holding a power of attorney relating to lands within the Otto Kingdom.
As part of efforts to de-escalate the dispute, Oba Odesanya urged the Suleoba family to embrace peace and withdraw its earlier allegations in a video to be released within 48 hours of the meeting.
He further stated that Williams would be invited to a follow-up meeting after the withdrawal to explain the circumstances surrounding his acquisition of the disputed property.
Another participant, Lateef Ogunbaji, who identified himself as one of the former landowners, backed Williams’ account of the transaction, insisting that the businessman legitimately purchased the land from its previous owners.
Ogunbaji criticised the Suleoba children’s handling of the matter, accusing them of embarking on what he described as a campaign of defamation against Williams.
Illustrating his position, he compared the situation to a farmer who invites a thief onto his farm only to turn around and call the police to arrest the same person.
He also challenged the Suleoba children to deny that their respective portions of the property had been sold, arguing that none of them could swear that the land they previously owned remained unsold.
The meeting provided an opportunity for the monarch and individuals identified as former landowners to present their perspectives on the controversy and explore avenues for an amicable settlement.
However, the claims made at the meeting do not, in themselves, conclusively establish ownership of the disputed property. The authenticity and legal effect of the relevant land documents, alongside the competing claims of the parties, remain crucial to determining ownership.
The monarch’s intervention is expected to pave the way for further engagement between the parties, with the proposed follow-up meeting aimed at clarifying the circumstances surrounding Williams’ acquisition of the land.
The dispute underscores the importance of proper documentation, transparency in land transactions and the use of established dispute-resolution mechanisms in addressing property disagreements.
