Olubadan intervenes, halts demolition of 186 houses in Ibadan

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, has stopped the proposed demolition of about 186 houses at Isokan Estate Extension, Alao-Akala, Elebu area of Ibadan in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State. Checks by The of the land-grabbing committee, which proposed legal backing to curb the activities of land grabbers in the city. Ladoja showed, “The proposed legal framework would entail the passage of bye-laws by local government councillors, in accordance with the Land Use Act, to provide for the creation of special tribunals that would give accelerated hearing to cases of land grabbing in Ibadan and specify sanctions.

” however, at Tuesday’s meeting, stakeholders agreed that fresh ground markings should be carried out by independent surveyors to determine the exact boundaries of the disputed land, with the exercise to be monitored by the state Ministry of Lands, Housing, Survey and Urban Development. “By so doing, we would be able to know who is trespassing on whose land and determine the next line of action to take,” the Olubadan indicated. He also commended the Oyo State Commissioner of Police, Olugbemiga Abimbola, for ensuring prompt police intervention in the area and preventing the situation from escalating. Confirming the development via a communiqué issued in Ibadan on Wednesday, the Olubadan’s media aide, Adeola Oloko, indicated the monarch’s residence was flooded by landlords from Isokan Extension seeking intervention.

“The Olubadan residence was besieged by truckloads of Isokan Extension landlords at about 12:30 p. m.

They informed Kabiyesi that their house rooftops had been removed between Thursday and Friday ahead of demolition following an Ibadan High Court judgment in favour of Mogaji Olopade Taofeek Abiola, also known as Mogaji Oloyin,” the statement read. Mogaji Oloyin had maintained that the 31 acres of land at Isokan Extension belonged to his family and that he possessed a valid court judgment and survey plan. “He contended that he had made efforts to bring the reality of the matter to the attention of those concerned and invited the landlords for dialogue, but his efforts were rebuffed,” Oloko outlined. from the spokesman of the Isokan community, Isiaq Olatunji, some fences had already been demolished in addition to the removed rooftops.