Some landowners in Lagos have faulted a claim by Adamakin Investment and Works Limited and its Chief Executive Officer, Chief Afolabi Akindele, on the ownership of an undeveloped piece of land in Okun-Ajah Lekki,
Akindele had urged the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, to investigate an alleged threat to his life over the land.
He alleged that the land in contention had been a subject of litigation which he had won and that certain individuals had been trespassing on it.
Chairman of Adamakin Investment & Works., Akin Afolabi, had also claimed to possess a Supreme Court judgment, which predates the amalgamation of Nigeria.
He argued that landowners in Lagos and some parts of Ogun may need to authenticate Certificates of Ownership and pay outstanding debts owed to the “rightful owners”.
According to him, the lands were acquired and procured legally by the Late Iyalode Efunroye Tinubu before her demise in 1887.
He added that the late Efunroye Tinubu expanded her territory by purchasing the Ewe Agbigbo/Iwaya farmlands owned by the Olotos with 200 bags of cowries, 200 pieces of kola nuts, ten slaves and a live ram a year after.
Afolabi who claimed to be the family attorney, also claimed that a survey conducted by Herbert Macaulay in 1910 and tendered as exhibit in court in 1912 confirmed Efunroye’s claim to the lands.
He asserted that his company has the “red copy” of her estate, which is a valid proof of Mamdam Efunroye Tinubu’s claim to all lands in Lagos and its environs.
But, many of the landowners are alleging a distortion in the narrative by the family of Madam Efunroye Tinubu.
This, according to them, is because it has been established that Idejo chiefs are, according to Lagos tradition, the original land owners of the island of Lagos, being descendants of Olofin who first colonised Iddo Island of Lagos.
The landowners insist that some members of the Idejo aristocracy, the Elegushi for example, have had their status elevated to that of an Oba.
They also note that the 32 children of Olofin (some of who were non-biological) included Olumegbon, Aromire, Oloto, Oluwa, Oniru, Onisowo, Onitolo, Elegushi, Ojoro, and Onikoyi.
A source close to the landowners told The Nation: “For instance, in the case of Amodu Tijani v Secretary, Southern Nigeria [1921] 2 AC 399, [1921] UKPC 80, also known as the Apapa land case, decided by the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council concerning land title, the controversy at issue in the case arose in 1913.
“It was when the colonial government of Nigeria appropriated land in Apapa, pursuant to the Public Land (Acquisition) Ordinance 1903, in order to give it to European merchants.
“The land was occupied by the Oluwa family, under the leadership of Amodu Tijani Oluwa.
“In that case, Tijani argued before the Nigerian courts that he was owed compensation for the expropriation because the land belonged to him personally. His claim was unsuccessful.”
The source noted that the Adoyi family had accused the Efunroye Tinubu family of altering the facts of history on the ownership of lands in Lagos.
“The Adoyi family stated that several declarations of ownership of title have been determined in their favour by the Supreme Court of Nigeria and the West Africa Court of Appeal (WACA),” the source said.
Besides, the landowners noted that the Land Use Act promulgated in 1978 vests all land comprised in the territory of each state in the governor.
They believe that if what in their opinion amounts to incorrect narratives are not corrected, the Obaship and chieftaincy custom and tradition in Lagos would be at risk.