Tuesday, November 8, 2016 was a black day for many house owners in Oriokuta/Ojokoro area of Ikorodu as bailiffs, sheriffs and armed policemen stormed the area with a court judgement, denouncing the purchase of a vast area of land (42 hectares) by these house owners from one Moshood, who was disclaimed and disowned by his late father, Lamidi Olowosago.
The bewildered former landlords and their families were confronted by stern looking judicial and security officials, who posted notices of the court judgement and warnings of impending demolition of their houses because they bought the land from a discredited member of the Dawodu Olowosago family.
The late patriarch of the prominent Olowosago family and Baba Adinni of Ikorodu Central Mosque. Chief Lamidi Dawodu Olowosago, had disowned Moshood before he died and the entire family held on to that decision regarding any illegal any sale of land by the said Moshood and others.
No wonder on that fateful Tuesday in November, residents of Oriokuta Ojokoro, who illegally fell into Moshood’s hands and bought their land from him and his agents, were shaking with fear and gnashing their teeth because Olowosago/Ewunmi families have been granted possession of the vast land occupied by about thirty (30) families.
In a judgement delivered by a former judge of the Lagos High Court, Abiru, in 2012, the court ordered the illegal occupants of the land to leave and granted notice of demolition of their houses in the enrolment order dated July 23, 2012 (copy published).
Armed with these authorities, bailiffs and policemen from the Lagos Judiciary, supported by additional security men from Ikorodu police command, stormed the said area and sealed up the affected places numbering about forty three (43) plots of land, measuring 3.7 hectares and belonging to Oshineye and Dawodu Olowosago families.
Those affected by the court decision are Joseph Ogbu Ijifor, 10/12, Bamidele Crescent, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Jamiu Onimale, 15, Bamidele Crescent, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Lateef Morenikeji, 13, Bamidele Crescent, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Adeniyi Fabunmi, 9, Bamidele Crescent, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Muyideen Salau, 7, Bamidele Crescent, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Tajudeen Oguniyi, 5, Bamidele Crescent, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Tony Adenuga, 3, Bamidele Crescent, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Yussuf Akawo, 15, Atewologun Street, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Sikiru Lamidi, 17, Atewologun Street, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Ubi Adedeji, 19, Atewologun Street, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Oyebolu , Atewologun Street Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mrs. Omideyi 6, Atewologun Street, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Kazeem 9, Atewologun Street, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Jamiu (Surveyor), 5/7, Atewologun Street, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Engineer I. Oyelakin, I l, Ojokunle Street, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mrs. Ujuoubeirbo, 5/7, Ojokunle Street, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Alhaji Amusa, 6, Ojokunle Street, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Oshimowo Adeyemi , 25 Ojokunle Street, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Olutunkunle Bolaji, 14, Adekunle Crescent, Oriokuta, Ikorodu; Mr. Adeyemi M, 16, Adekunle Crescent Oriokuta, Ikorodu; Mr. Bamidele Oluwole, 18, Adekunle Crescent, Oriokuta, Ojokoro, Ikorodu; Mr. Olutubayo Samson, 21, Adekunle Crescent, Oriokuta, Ojokoro Ikorodu; Mr. Sitrumi M.O,19B, Adekunle Crescent, Oriokuta, Ojokoro Ikorodu; Mrs. Mariaam Johnson, 15, Atewologun Street, Oriokuta, Ikorodu; Mr. Lawal, 11, Atewologun Street, Oriokuta, Ikorodu; Mr. Olubunmi Olascni Adetola, 10, Bamidele Street, Oriokuta, Ikorodu; Mr. E. Elebiju, 14, Adekunle Olatunji Street, Oriokuta, Ikorodu and Mr. Atewologun 1 6, Atewologun Street.
Beautiful houses in some of the affected streets stared the law enforcement operatives on the face but they had a duty to perform. The bewildered residents and houses owners were simply told to hasten up to reach agreement with the rightful owners, Ewunmi and Olowosago families, to save their buildings as their next visit will be with bulldozers to demolish the houses.
In an interview with the Sheriffs, one of them said he had shown the house owners/residents copies of the court order to affirm the credibility of the visit.
The affected streets include Atewologun st, Ojokunle st, and Adekunle st. Within two hours, the bailiffs/sheriffs had completed their assignment in the areas.
Meanwhile, the affected house owners are said to have their choices, the best of which is to meet the legitimate owners of the land, the Dawodu Olowosago/Ewunmi families to negotiate the terms as they had already been warned that any time from now, without any further notice, bulldozers will storm the area and begin the house demolition operation.