Residents of Sangotedo town in Eti-Osa East Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, have cried out to the government to come to their rescue, following the alleged demolition of their property by Lagos State Building Control Agency, LASBCA, officials.

The Olufunmi Eshilokun Royal Family of Sangotedo, which raised the alarm, said one Percio Property Company, accompanied LASBCA officials in the demolition.

HRH Oba Mohammad Akorede, the Olu of Sangotedo Kingdom, who addressed newsmen in Lagos, said the urgent intervention of the state government would forestall total economic ruins, destruction and demolitions of their property constructed with hard earned money.

Oba Akorede in a statement by Prince Halidu Olufunmi, Head and Olori -Ebi of the Olufunmi Eshilokun Royal Family, said: “The Olufunmi Eshilokun Royal family are the owners and overlords of large parcel of land situate at Sangotedo Town in the Eti-Osa East, LCDA.

“The family became owners by the fact that the town was first settled on and founded by their Progenitor Prince Olufunmi, the seond child of Oba Esilokun, the fouth Oba of Lagos while looking for his legendary senior brother Oba Kosoko, who left Lagos during the Obaship crisis and civil war that broke in Lagos between him and his uncle Oba Akitoye.

“The fact that Prince Olufunmi was the first settler in Sangotedo and that his descendants, the OlufunmiEsilokun Royal family ownership of the adjoining and large parcel of Land at Sngotedo Town, is confirmed amongst others by the judgment of Justice E. Ajao-Oshodi in suit No. Ld/328/76 Alhaja Barakat Olufunmi & Ors. V Yakubu Olufunmi & Anor.

“Sometimes in 2021, a company Percio Property Company Limited instituted suit No. LD/10877LMW/2021 V Alhaji Musiliu Abidemi Onikoyi & Ors., against our family and other families from Egan Anidu, Oko-Eledu, the Lagos State Government and other agencies of the state government, claiming to have been allocated large parcel of land measuring 67.001 hectares.

“This bogus claim includes the Olopa Metta Village excision excised to the Olufunmi family, by the Lagos State Government excision, measuring an area of 10.035 hectares of land, the land is covered by Survey Plan No. LS/D/LA3487, tracing No. LS/T/LA3487 signed by Beyioku O.W Surveyor Grade 1, on 11/7/2014, counter-signed by O.A Sangowawa, Govt Surveyor on 11/7/2014 and Signed by Joseph Agbenla, the Surveyor-General of Lagos State on 27/2/2015.

“These areas of land are in the possession of the family, part of which have been granted and allocated to some family members, who have constructed property on the land and other part of which, the family in the exercise of the family ownership rights have sold and granted to their privies and tenants, respectively.

“LASBCA, invaded our land, claimed to be demolishing buildings and structures without no building permits and approvals, without service of contravention notices as provided for by its law and government regulations.

“The demolition and destruction are still ongoing as the time of this statement on March 10, 2024.

“It is also amazed the family, why a government agency will be carrying such demolitions.

“Also, attempts by the family members and those who owned property on the land, who have been forcefully displaced from their property with their families, without being allowed to take their belongings have been met with threats,” he added. (Vanguard)

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