The Olofin royal family of Isheri Olofin community in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State, yesterday denied that its members had been disrespecting an Appeal Court order directing them to maintain status quo pending the determination of the substantive suit in respect of a land tussle.
It will be recalled that in a petition to the Lagos State Special Task Force on Land Grabbers, Ikeja, the Ishau Olorunfunmi family urged the agency to warn the traditional ruler of Isheri , Oba Wahabi Balogun, and other members of the Olofin family, to obey the motion as contained in the ruling delivered by the appellate court.
The petition signed by one Shamsideen Adebimpe Lawal followed a judgment by Justice Lawal Akapo of the Lagos State High Court in favour of Oba Wahabi Balogun.
In the petition dated Tuesday May 7, the family alleged that the Isheri monarch, Oba Wahab Balogun disregarded court order by encouraging affected residents on the land to come for purported ratifications of their titles despite the pending order.
But the Olofin chieftaincy family denied that its members had been disrespecting the court ruling.
In statement issued in Lagos, the palace spokesman, Chief Babajide Osokoya said that Ishau Olorunfunmi Family was being economical with the truth concerning the outcome of a public hearing on the issue..
The statement read in part: ‘’ The solicitors of the Oba of Isheri-Olofin and Isheri-Olofin people, Otunba Remi Adeoye and the Secretary of the Isheri-Olofin family, Alfa Isiaka Abogunloko who were present at the public hearing, vehemently and clearly stated the true positions of the matter.
‘’ At the end of the meeting, the coordinator of the Agency, Mr. Owolabi Arole warned the parties involved to obey the resolution of the court. It is however pertinent for us to let the world know the true position on the land issue, contrary to the tissue of lies stated in the petition written by Alhaji Shamsideen Alade Adebimpe.
‘’The petitioner made unfounded allegations that our highly revered monarch, a 92 year-old Justice of Peace (JP) disregarded court order by asking residents on the land to ratify their titles, and that Oba Wahab Balogun and others have continuously encroached on the land and properties of residents, causing chaos and destructions in their wake by illegally evicting them from same and transferring titles to innocent third parties.
’’It is instructive to note that the land issue is not between Isheri-Olofin and Idimu as widely reported, but between Oba Wahab Ayinde Balogun, the people of Isheri-Olofin and Ishau Olorunfunmi Madarikan family of Idimu.
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