Kunle Adelabu
The Oriwu Club has petitioned the Lagos State House of Assembly through its Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, strongly objecting to the encroachment and excision of any part of lands belonging to the premier college in Ikorodu Division -Oriwu College and the Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) by some suspected land grabbers with backing of some personalities in Ikorodu.
The club of eminent Nigerians who are sons of Ikorodu, in its petition titled, “ORIWŲ CLUB PETITIONS HONOURABLE SPEAKER OBASA ON ENCROACHMENT AND PROPOSED EXCISION OF GOVERNMENT-OWNED LANDS BELONGING TO ORIWU MODEL COLLEGE, IKORODU AND LAGOS STATE UNIVERSITY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY (LASUSTECH), IKORODU”, also urged the Assembly to investigate the alleged encroachment.
Relatedly, the Lagos State Government which THE IMPACT gathered has some of its staff conniving with the suspects that had attempted to forcefully enter into Oriwu College compound on a number of occasions from Igbe axis by pulling down its fence and effecting a gate, was also urged in the petition not to entertain any request granting any part of the two institutional lands to any individual or groups.
In the recent petition by Oriwu Club signed by its President, Engr. Olayiwola Saka, on behalf of members, the body emphasised that if the wishes of the suspected individuals are granted by the government it would diminish the school lands and prevent future educational developments.
“OUR REQUESTS : In view of the foregoing, we respectfully but firmly request the Honourable Lagos State House of Assembly to: (A) Reject and oppose any proposal for the excision of any portion of the lands belonging to Oriwu Model College, Ikorodu, and LASUSTECH, Ikorodu, where such excision would diminish the lands dedicated to their present or future educational purposes;
Call upon the Lagos State Government and all relevant agencies to decline any pending or future request for excision of portions of these lands in favour of private individuals or groups, unless and until the most rigorous investigation establishes a compelling legal basis consistent with the overriding public interest;
The club also charged the Lagos State House of Assembly to “Exercise its oversight powers to investigate the circumstances surrounding the alleged encroachment on the lands of the two institutions; and Direct the appropriate government agencies to conduct a comprehensive survey and boundary demarcation of the lands;
The petitioners furthered: “Require that no government agency or official process any application for excision, allocation, regularisation or other alienation affecting these educational lands without first undertaking a transparent investigation and consulting the relevant educational institutions and stakeholders;
Protect the lands from further encroachment and ensure that they remain available for the present and future educational needs or other public needs of the people of Ikorodu Division;
“Where necessary, invite the officials of the relevant Ministries, Departments and Agencies before the Honourable House to explain the steps being taken to protect these valuable public assets,” it stated.
While calling the attention of the Speaker to the activities of land speculators over the years and the danger it has constituted for Ikorodu, President of Oriwu Club warned against the government allowing such fate to befall educational institutions.
“Rt. Hon. Speaker, the people of Ikorodu Division have witnessed the gradual disappearance of public lands over the years through encroachment, unauthorised allocation, speculative activities and competing private claims. We must not allow the same fate to befall lands expressly acquired and preserved for education, one of the most important public purposes.”
“We therefore urge the Honourable House to treat this petition as a matter of urgent public importance. We particularly appeal to the Honourable House to send a clear and unequivocal message that public educational lands are not available for private appropriation through encroachment, pressure, administrative regularisation or excision. The present generation holds these lands in trust for the future.”
“They must not be surrendered for the benefit of a few at the expense of the many. We accordingly urge the Lagos State House of Assembly to use its legislative and oversight powers to ensure that all requests for the excision of portions of the lands of Oriwu Model College and LASUSTECH, Ikorodu, are declined and that the lands are protected from further encroachment. We trust that the Honourable House will give this matter the urgent attention it deserves,” the petition charged.
Members of the club expressed dismay at the idea of individuals requesting for excision of lands acquired for educational purposes for private benefits.
“Of even greater concern is information reaching us that representations are being made to the Lagos State Government to excise portions of these lands in favour of certain individuals or groups who describe themselves as the original owners. We respectively urge the Honourable House to view any such request with utmost caution and suspicion, particularly in circumstances where the lands have already been acquired and dedicated by the government for public educational purposes. Government-owned educational land cannot be allowed to become the subject of private speculation, indiscriminate development or organised land grabbing.”
“The fact that an individual or group may claim historical ownership of land does not, without more, justify the excision of land vested in or lawfully acquired by the Government and being used or preserved for a public educational purpose. Any such claim should be subjected to rigorous investigation and verification rather than being used as the basis for surrendering public assets. While we admit that the government has the power and discretion to excise land and return the same to the original owners from whom it was acquired, this is not a situation where such power or discretion should be exercised in favour of those seeking the excision herein mentioned.”
The petitioners note such lands which are acquired in the overall best interests should be used for what would be of benefit to the generality of the people.
“Part of the lands in question could be used for other public purposes, such as the children’s hospital that the Governor of Lagos State promised (in 2003 at Oriwu Club, Ikorodu) to build in Ikorodu if land could be provided.”
Recall that THE IMPACT had reported in two separate reports in June and December 2020, about the encroachment. In a letter dated 19th November, 2019, Barr. Qudus Lawal of De – Precedent Law Firm, 55, Awolowo Way, Ikorodu, had written to the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, notifying the state government of his clients’ (Ladugba and Liwe families) intention to take physical possession of their land located within the premises of Oriwu College, Ikorodu. In another letter dated 28th May, 2020 by S.A Shitta-Bey & Co and signed by one S.A Shitta – Bey, Esq. of Jabita Chambers (Olugbos House), located on 14, Akinsemoyin Street, off Bode Thomas Street, Surulere, Lagos, asked the Principal of the Oriwu Senior Model College, Ikorodu, to desist from trespassing into the portion of the school land belonging to Ladugba and Liwe land. In the second letter, the lawyer issued an ultimatum to the school to vacate the said land, demand for N50 million as damages and threatened to institute a court action if Oriwu College failed to comply with the stated demands within eight days.
In a reply to the letter by Shitta, Lawrence Akinwunmi, a lawyer from the Ogunlewe & Ogunlewe Chamber, expressed dismay over the order given by the Shitta – Bey & Co. Akinwunmi who wrote on the order of Ladugba family represented by Dr Jaiyeola Ogunlewe, Prince Gbadebo Ogunlewe, Senator Adeseye Ogunlewe, Prince Adesegun Ogunlewe and Mr Olaniran Ifekoya and Liwe family represented by Madam Fausat Fatai, daughter of Ambashu Otudein, former Ambashu (head) of Liwe Family, Ikorodu, said that the family did not instruct Shitta-Bey to write on their behalf and requested to know who is/are client(s).
Chieftains and members of the Oriwu College Old Students’ Association of Nigeria (OCOSAN) have over the years described the encroachment as a direct threat against students and staff of the premier school.
