13th July, 2011
Members of Ogunbanwo Chieftaincy Ruling Family of Igbokuta near Ikorodu, Lagos State, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police over alleged threat to their lives, intimidation by the police, harassment and dabbling into a civil matter.
In a petition by the secretary to the family, Nasiru Jimoh Olayiwola, the family said hoodlums assisted by the police were in the habit of causing malicious damage to their properties and also harassing them over their land in Igbokuta near Imota in Ikorodu.
Ogunbanwo family said the latest attack was on 4 June, 2011 during which one ASP Taofeek led a team of policemen from Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Ikeja, whisked away the Baale of Igbokuta, Chief Nasiru Tajudeen and Mr. Hakeem Gbadamosi.
According to the family spokesman, all documents relating to the civil case were presented to the police but they failed to listen to their explanations.
The family named some of their alleged attackers to include Sikiru Jimoh a.k.a. Atiba, Akinrele Abiola Michael, Ismaila Alowonle Shonaya, Joseph Akinrele and Bisoye Ibrahimoh, among others.
It urged for speedy action to protect their lives and properties in view of the fact that they fear the hoodlums were planning a fresh attack on Igbokuta people.
Reacting to the petition in a letter dated 7 June, 2011, the Principal Staff Officer II to the IGP, Assistant Commissioner of Police Murtala U. Mani, acknowleged the petition by the Ogunbanwo family and directed the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, to take necessary and urgent action on the matter.
To buttress its claim, the family said Justice H.A.O. Abiru of the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikorodu had on 15, February, 2010 delivered judgment that the land in dispute at Igbokuta belongs to them and that they are entitled to the grant of statutory/customary right of occupancy.
The court also issued an order granting the possession of the land to the family who are the claimants in the case which the defendants continued to use hoodlums and the police to harass, intimidate and oppress them.