A Lagos resident, Olufemi Fasheun, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Inspector General of the Nigeria Police to intervene over an alleged plan by suspected land grabbers to take over his father’s property in Lagos State.

Fasheun told journalists that the property located at 10 Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun, Lagos, was acquired by his late father, Olawanle Ebenezer Fasheun in 1961 and that they had lived on the property for 60 years.

The American returnee stated that his father died in 2004 and that immediately after his death, some alleged land grabbers laid claims to the land.

Fasheun alleged that a member of Governor Advisory Council (GAC), Cardinal James Odumbaku, spearheaded the land tussle with the family. “They brought some fake papers and they went to Court in Ajah, not even in Ikeja to lay claims that the land belongs to them. In 2021, Odunmbaku brought some Police officers from Zone 2 Police Command, they arrested everyone they saw at the premises and locked them up. They brought bulldozers and brought down some parts of the building.

“I went to the Zone 2 of the Nigeria Police and land grabbers’ office, but I couldn’t make any headway. I only found out a few months ago that Odunmbaku wrote a petition against me to Zone 2 Police Command that I trespassed on his land, a land that we have occupied for 60 years.”

“I appeal to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to my rescue and help resolve this matter. People like us have spent many years in the United States of America, we want to come back home and invest in this country.

“They broke into this place four times and anytime they come, they break things and steal our property and we keep buying these things back. They stole generators and other items. The last time they came here, they stayed for four days before we were able to chase them out. The President and the Governor should come to our aid,” he said.

Also, President, Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights, Alex Omotehinse and Executive Project Director, Lawyers for Reform Group/Principal Partner, Juryman Associates Chambers, Oladotun Hassan, spoke against the activities of land grabbers in Lagos State.

The groups in a statement stated that they are committed to ensuring protection of fundamental and social justice rights, “promoting peace building, and legal intervention to rescue Mr. Olufemi Fasheun, the bonafide owner of the property known referred to as ‘victim’.

Efforts to get Odunmbaku were futile, as calls put across to him were not answered.