The Vice Chairman of Olorunda Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, Mr. Michael Ewenla Okenla, has cried out over alleged threat to his life over land matter.

In a petition written to the Inspector General of Police, the vice chairman complained about threat to his life, intimidation, harassment and molestation allegedly sponsored by the monarch of Ilogbo Eremi in the council area, Oba Moses Olaleye, who he said, is restraining him and his people from his land.

Speaking with LG Circuit, Okenla said following a petition written against him by the monarch and his supporters, he was invited for interrogation after which a team of police officers went to search his house.

The politician, who is a leader in the Celestial Church of Christ, Mojobalo Parish in the town, also complained about the various attacks and destruction of his property by thugs sent allegedly sent by the monarch on several occasions, which he said were reported at the Divisional Police Headquarters at Morogbo.

Explaining his involvement in the matter, Okenla said his father, Chief Mojeed Okenla, being an accredited leader in the area, was among the authorised lessors of the land which originally belonged to the community, but with the community’s authority, its accredited representative was granted on leasehold basis to a corporate body, Omofood Industry Nigeria Limited.

He explained further that on the account of the undisturbed ownership and occupation of the land by the company, he took a sub-lease of some part of the said land through its principal representative and built houses and a church on it.

According to the council vice chairman, this led to the killing of his father on his farmland on 30 September, 1983 without the trace of the killers, adding, “now they are after my life after they destroyed my property without being questioned.”

When contacted on phone, Oba Moses Olaleye told LG Circuit: “If you want to publish anything, do because the case is not new. Anyway, I will tell one of my chiefs to speak with you.”

But as at the time of filing this report, nothing has been heard from the monarch.

Recently, the Oba in-council and residents of Ilupeju Estaste of the community had appealed to the Lagos State Goverment to investigate alleged unlawful act of the vice chairman who they accused using his position to remove a street name and blocking an access road to the entire community by erecting a gate there and

therefore called on Governor Fashola, “whose leadership is all about service to humanity and respect for the rule of law as well as fundamental human rigths for all, irrespective of class or status, to interven in the matter and call the vice chairman to order to avoid unnecessary bloodshed.”

—Lucky Lawal

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