Nonagenarian appeals to FG over Ikoyi property

A nonagenarian, Alhaja Ashiata Aduke Onikoyi-Laguda, has made a passionate appeal to both Lagos state and the federal government to disregard any sinister plot targeted at members of the Onikoyi descendants.

This, she said would ensure that members of the family benefit from the property bequeathed to them by their progenitors.
Some aggrieved members of the 10 branches of the Onikoyi family had claimed that in 2007, a 4.342 hectares of land covered by water was allocated to the family by Lagos State Government but it was seized by the Federal Government and later settled out of court in suit No: LD/769/12 between the Federal Government and the Oba alone.

However, because the family representatives were not involved in the out of court settlement, the Federal Government refused to release the land to any single individual. This made the Oba sued the Federal Government in suite No: LD/8690/14 which is pending at the Lagos High Court.

Alhaja Onikoyi-Laguda who was a former Secretary to a former chairman of the African Alliance Insurance Company, the late Chief S.L. Edu, made the passionate plea at a press briefing to mark her 90th birthday where she also called on the Onikoyi of Ikoyi/Moba land, Oba Patrick Ibikunle Fafunwa, to avert discord among family members.

She stated: “I want the federal government to know that he (Oba Fafunwa) was made an Oba by his family. He is rich enough and I want him to be contented with what God has done for him. He should give other members of the family part of the property belonging to the family.
“Since there is no Lloyd’s bank in heaven, you should release what belongs to the family and allow the family benefits from the property. I know you to be a Christian and in the 10 commandments, God said: “do not steal; do not take your neighbor’s property.
“You should remember that we were once together at the insurance company, today, God has blessed you by becoming a monarch. You should not allow ill-gotten wealth have negative effect on you.

I urge you, do not split the family because of family properties and don’t be ungrateful to those that assisted you become a monarch. Many of them cannot afford three square meal yet, you will not give them what belonged to them.”

She charged Fafunwa to unite the family in whichever way so as to ensure peace reigns in the family. Onikoyi-Laguda who is the head of the Ajose Aluko branch also enjoined other members of the Onikoyi royal family to be united in the struggle to get their entitlement.