A protracted ownership dispute over a Federal Government road setback in Ibadan between land beneficiaries and the Oyo State Housing Corporation has taken a troubling turn, with fresh allegations of extortion, intimidation, and unlawful demolition emerging.
Mr. Ibrahim Olatunji, one of seven beneficiaries of the Federal Government allocation, alleged that officials of the Oyo State Housing Corporation unlawfully interfered with land duly allocated to them by the Federal Ministry of Lands and Urban Development.
According to Olatunji, the allocation was made in 2023, after which the beneficiaries took possession and began utilising the property without interference.
“Since 2023, the Federal Government allocated the land to us. We are seven in number, and we took possession immediately and started using it peacefully,” he said.
He explained that about six months later, officials of the state housing agency appeared on the site, claiming ownership.
“After about six months, officials from Oyo State Housing came, saying they owned the place. We told them clearly that the Federal Ministry of Lands and Urban Development allocated the setback to us,” he stated.
Olatunji disclosed that directors from the Federal Ministry later visited from Abuja for an inspection and reaffirmed federal ownership of the setback.
“Directors from Abuja came for site inspection, and after everything, the Federal Government confirmed that the setback belongs to them and not Oyo State Housing,” he said.
He added that documentary evidence showed the state agency had earlier applied for the same setback but was denied.
“The Federal Government showed us letters written by Oyo Housing in 2015 requesting the setback, and the request was rejected. That was why FG advised us to take full possession and issued us official letters,” he explained.
Following the inspection, the beneficiaries said they met with the Chairman of Oyo State Housing Corporation, Mr. Ademola Omotosho, alongside stakeholders, including Mr. Akeem Olatunde Lawal, Director of Marketing, Oyo State Housing Corporation.
“We showed them all our documents, including letters written by Housing themselves,” Olatunji said.
He alleged that after reviewing the documents, the officials advised them to seek cooperation rather than confrontation.
“Mr. Akeem told us that as individuals, we lacked the capacity to fight Housing Corporation and that we should seek cooperation with their office,” he claimed.
Olatunji further alleged that Omotosho demanded money for settlement.
“He requested ₦10 million for settlement. We were only able to raise ₦6 million, which we paid into Mr. Akeem Olatunde’s private account, the Director of Marketing.
We have the account details and evidence of payment” he alleged.
He added that all allocation documents were also requested and submitted before the payment.
The beneficiary said the matter was later reported to the Inspector-General of Police, prompting an invitation to the Housing Corporation chairman.
“Omotosho later honoured the police invitation,” he said in an update.
However, tensions escalated on the ground despite police involvement.
“They came that day with soldiers and armed thugs. We felt intimidated,” Olatunji alleged.
The dispute worsened when heavy equipment was reportedly deployed to the setback, leading to demolition of structures erected by the beneficiaries.
“One day, we suddenly saw a caterpillar on the site demolishing buildings. I rushed there and met officials, including the Director of Estate, Lukman Yusuf and Nureni Adeniran, Subeb Chairman giving instructions on where to demolish,” he said.
He maintained that the demolition occurred despite the subsisting dispute, federal documentation, and security reports.
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain a reaction from the Director of Marketing, Oyo State Housing Corporation, Mr. Akeem Olatunde Lawal, proved abortive, as calls and messages sent to him were not returned.
Reacting to the development, the Chairman, Mr. Ademola Omotosho, said the matter had been handed over to the Department of State Services (DSS), the Police, and the Oyo State Anti-Land Grabbing Agency, adding that he would not make further comments on the issue.
