Family sues taskforce over New Oko-Oba demolition

[MrVan]

*Fashola ordered demolition —Taskforce boss

By IFEANYI OKOLIE

IKEJA – Controversy has continued to trail the recent invasion of New Oko-Oba, Agege  area  of Lagos State, by officials of the Lagos State  Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences, where they demolished  some structures and arrested no fewer than 18 persons.

The  Olarokun Family, owners of the property, located in Olayiwola Street, New Oko-Oba, has filed a contempt suit  at  the Lagos High Court, Ikeja,  against the Taskforce, asking the court to commit to prison, its Chairman, Mr. Bayo Suleiman, a Superintendent of Police and his assistant, Jide Agboola, also a police superintendent for allegedly invading  their property  and a flagrant disobedience of a court judgment.

But the Taskforce chairman, in a reaction, told Vanguard that his men embarked on a mission authorised by Governor Babatunde Fashola to rescue  the area of some land-grabbers who had been terrorising the state.

In the suit filed by their counsel, Mayomi Afekhuai, the Olarokun Family accused Suleiman and Agboola  of violating a high court judgment in suit No: ID/1313/98, which was delivered by Justice M. O. Obadina of the Ikeja High Court on June 2, 2009 in the favour of Olarokun Family against another family –  Olarokun/Orisadare.

Part of the judgment stated that: " The land  in dispute has a certificate of occupancy which covers areas known as Orile-Agege, Oko-Oba, Abule-Egba and Iju Railway Station as edged red on a survey plan No.Jo61a/76 drawn by Olusola Ogunsanya and Survey Plan No. Fem3/84 dated 3/10/1984 drawn by J.Olufemi Olugbemi"

The  Olarokun Family  also alleged that members of Olarokun/Orisadare family and their privies that were said to be unhappy with the judgment, allegedly contracted Suleiman to assist them to reclaim the lands and properties.

Suleiman and Agboola were further alleged to have unlawfully arrested some persons found inside the office of one Taiye Ologun, an agent to the Olarokun Family whom they detained in a cell at Alausa, Ikeja.

But the Task force officials told Vanguard that they acted on the orders of Governor Babatunde Fashola, who mandated them to investigate a case of harassment, intimidation and illegal destruction of property of the residents by land-grabbers and deliver justice.

Vanguard Nigeria