Traditional ruler takes possession of 300 buildings in Lagos
… asks occupants to vacate buildings
CITIZENS COMPASS – SOME home owners in Surulere area of Lagos State, are currently in a difficult time as a traditional ruler in the Area, Oba Lateef Atanda, has said he obtained a court injunction to demolish 300 buildings.
Panic has enveloped the area as many of the occupants said they have no place to go.
The buildings fall within Masha Roundabout, Adelabu Road and some inner streets, as their traditional ruler, the Onikate of Ikate, Surulere, Lagos, Oba Lateef Atanda Adams, is laying claim to the entire land measuring 315.9 acres in the enclave.
The affected buildings were marked with the inscription ‘IKD/288/68 possession taken today 30/3/2023 by court’.
Oba Adams is threatening to reclaim the entire land from the present occupiers on the grounds that the state government did not pay compensation to the family/original landowners when the land was acquired about 40 years ago, as stipulated by the Land Use Act, 1978.
He said the present property owners did not recognize or buy the land directly from the family and as such, they must present the receipts or other documents on such property and enter new agreements with the family.
He is relying on a judgment delivered by Justice Olusan Bada of the Lagos State High court in suit No 18/118/68 on November 10, 1975 between Kasali Idewu and ORS V Ayisatu Yaya and ORS, which declared land measuring 315.9 acres as captured by survey plan number ‘AGW/263’ to the defendants/judgment creditors and affirmed by the ruling delivered by Justice M.A. Lawal of the Ikeja Judicial Division of the High Court of Lagos State on December 9, 2022.
The traditional ruler urged owners of the affected property to come with whatever documents they have to facilitate a settlement.
Oba Adams said: “They should let us sit down and settle this thing before it gets out of hand. They should come to regularize with us. They cannot win in court. They should come else I will demolish everything. We need their cooperation. Let government call me so that we can have a roundtable.”
