Idimu: Monarch denies harassing landlords with thugs

Idimu/Ikotun road

The traditional ruler of Isheri-Olofin, Oba Wahab Balogun, has denied reports that he has been using thugs to harass house owners in the Idimu area of Lagos State.

Balogun, in a statement, said there had not been any case of violence or breakdown of law and order

in the community and that everyone had been living in peace.

It was confirmed last week, that some house owners in Idimu had lamented the constant harassment by thugs purportedly on the order of the monarch.

The landlords had said they were being asked to part with N5.6m as fresh payment for their land after a 34-year court case was decided in favour of Balogun.

They said they were not party to any land case, and were unaware that ownership of their land had been transferred until they saw a notice on their buildings.

The sources said they could neither renovate nor re-paint their buildings without being disturbed.

Balogun, in his reaction said, “It was true that the Lagos High Court gave judgment in a 34-year-old land dispute in favour of the people of Isheri Olofin and my humble self on May 15, 2012. The judgment was very clear, as it restrained the defendants, their agents and cronies among others from further development and trespass on the over 300 hundred hectares of land.

“Nobody has any right to commence further development on any property without proper and adequate settlement with the new owners, except proved otherwise by the law.”

He alleged that he had been threatened through text messages and phone calls after the matter was decided in his favour.

However, one of the two lawyers for the Idimu community, Olufemi Ajiboso, insisted that the harassment of residents had not stopped.

He said, “The Olorunfunmi family has been in charge of the land in Idimu from time immemorial and that was why after the judgment, they appealed immediately.

“But despite this, some thugs began to move from house to house harassing people to pay N5.1m to N5.6m to the Isheri Olofin. We told them that the matter was in the appeal court, but they kept harassing people up till this moment.

“The only option we have now is to approach the court again and Area M police command, so we can have a place of refuge when assault is launched against us.”

A police source, who craved anonymity, at State Investigation Bureau, Idimu, called on residents with evidence of harassment to come forward and talk to the police.