Family petitions Ekiti CP, seeks arrest of traditional ruler over ‘land grabbing, assault’
The family of Oluode in the Odo-Odi area of Ayetoro-Ekiti in Ido/Osi LGA of Ekiti has written a petition to Joseph Eribo, the state’s commissioner of police, over alleged assault and land grabbing by the traditional ruler of the town, the Alayetoro of Ayetoro-Ekiti, Oba Olufisan Ajayi.
Other allegations contained in the copy of the petition sighted by The Times of Abuja include stealing and malicious damage of properties by some thugs believed to have been hired and directed by the traditional ruler of the town.
In the petition written by Wole Faola, their counsel, the family accused the traditional ruler of contempt of court, alleging that he led about six hoodlums to a property belonging to them and carried out massive damages to the ongoing projects and also attacked the workers on site, despite an existing order that affirmed the Oluode family as the rightful owner of the land.
However, in his response to the petition, the traditional ruler said the land was acquired in 1982 – 20 years before his assumption of the throne and lying fallow.
“But because the land belongs to my mother’s side, the family approached me to make judicious use of the vast space of the land,” he said.
“Yes, the family won the case and were given judgment as the rightful owner of the clearly demarcated space of the land, but they trespassed, and that was the bone of contention.
“I was not at home a couple of weeks ago when some people called me from home that they could see buildings springing up on the land, outside their demarcated space. It was then I told them to go and chase them out, and they went and carried out my order.
“It was true I ordered the demolition of the building, though it was at the foundation level; that was just the story.”
However, the Oluode countered the traditional ruler’s claims, insisting that the judgment was not appealed.
“That judgement was given in favour of our client with damages over a vast area of land between their family and Oba Alayetoro Ekiti with no: HAD/143/21 between Mr P.A. Olajide Akinola and ORS vs Oba Samuel Olufisan Ajayi, the Alayetoro of Ayetoro Ekiti,” the petition reads.
“That the said judgement was not appealed against by the defendant and that my client has been in lawful and actual possession of the land ever since.
“The petitioners further explained that on the instructions of the king, Mr Seyi Ajayi, Sunday Ajidese, Adereye Oponbola, Rotimi, Samuel A. and David stormed the site with guns and cutlasses, forcefully ejected the workers and destroyed blocks, wasted bags of cement and also stole phones and cash belonging to the workers.”
But the petitioners said they reported the matter to the Ido-Ekiti police station, where two officers were detailed to arrest the suspects.
They alleged that the suspects resisted arrest, claiming the traditional ruler had already spoken to the divisional police officer (DPO).
The Oluode family also accused the DPO of shielding the suspects through the influence of the traditional ruler and urged the commissioner of police to investigate the matter and arrest the suspects.
