People’s Voice Online News reports that the Oloja Of Epe, Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun, The Onirete Of Irete Ijebu, Oba Ganiu Awokoya, Muraina Obanjoko Threeco, Saheed Mosadoluwa AKA Ibile have been named as the land grabbers behind the land tussle in Eyin-Osa community, Epe.
This is coming few days after SP Salako, ACP Jejeloye and Murphy Adebare, the CEO of Topaz Gardens Limited were accused of land grabbing in Eyin-Osa by some individuals that claim the Certificate Of Occupancy has been issued to them.
However, the community leaders have exonerated the accused police officers, while making it known that they contacted Topaz Gardens CEO to help them get their land back from the traditional rulers and others who they named as land grabbers.
According to Baale Pakiti Iberu Oloko, Topaz is not a land grabber, He is only trying to rescue the community from the hands of Land Grabbers that have been mentioned earlier.
‘’We are not fighting with the government, we are in line with what the government wants and we want to beg them to help us get back our land. This is why we handed it over to Topaz.I want to appeal to the Lagos state government to release our land to us from land grabbers. We own our land and that is where we are ruling. We are the one that handed the work to Topaz to help us with the government to get back our land.’’
The head of the Mogaji Family in Eyin-Osa, Semiu Olaiya Ayanda also confirmed that their land has been invaded by powerful landgrabbers who have the backing of some traditional rulers. He mentioned that they have taken the matter to the Olu Of Epe but nothing tangible came out from it and that’s why they resorted to employing Topaz.
‘’Our forefathers’ land at Eyin Osa has been invaded by powerful land grabbers. We reported them, called the engineer to order and they followed me to Olu of Epe’s palace. The Kabiesi asked them not to work on the land until they settle the land owners but since then, they didn’t respond. We got to know later that Kabiesi Animashahun is supporting them. We just have to look for someone to help us and that’s why I joined the topas group and he narrated to us that he will go back to Lagos state government and do all the necessary to get our land for us. We have so many agreement we signed with Topaz together with the family, he is not a land grabber’’
Also, Baale Bashorun Badaro went down the memory lane to explain how they struggled to get the land back but to no avail. He also revealed how they met Topaz two years ago, how he bought landed property for them and the agreement they had with him
‘’We struggled in many ways to get this land back but we could not and that’s why we arranged with Topaz whom we met two years ago to assist us. Infact, he bought some of the land and we issued receipts to him, He is not a land grabber. We don’t have access to our land because of the activities of land grabbers, they sent thugs to beat us from the property. Topaz isn’t a land grabber, we gave him our land to help us with it.’’
Furthermore, Baale Taiwo Asilebe noted that their forefathers have occupied the land for over 250 years and it’s surprising that some people suddenly came to say they are not the rightful owners of the land. He also affirmed that Threeco is the leader of the aforementioned land grabbers.
‘’‘This land is for our forefathers who have occupied these land for over 250 years, we have been going there since we were young, even the Kabiesi gave us approval to appoint a Baale because over 120 villages are there. Suddenly some people came to say we are not the owners and this is why we contacted Topaz. Threeco is the leader of the Land grabbers, we own our land and we appeal to the government to help us get back our land. ‘’
Continuing, the CEO Of Topaz Gardens Limited, Murphy Adebare denied the involvement of CSP Jaiyesimi, CSP Jejeloye and MC Salako in the land grabbing mess. He explained that the land in question belongs to Eko Epe but land grabbbers backed by the aforementioned traditional rulers and the DPO of Epe local government have invaded the land.
He made it known that they have been intimidating people working on the site and have also taken the C of O that confirms the true owners of the landed property. He revealed that the people of Eko Epe are the rightful owners of the land and should be given back their property
‘’CSP Jaiyesimi, CSP Jejeloye and MC Salako are acting on the instruction of the CP and are doing their official work. They are not land grabbers. Eko Epe totally has Eyin Osa but they don’t want the rightful owners to have access to it. The people that have sold it are the land grabbers not those they mentioned. People like Muraina Obanjoko Threeco, Saheed Ibile Mosadoluwa are land grabbers, they should ask them. The people working in the site now are the rightful owners. The document we are talking about now has the C of O that confirms the rightful owners but it is with these landgrabbers, where is it now? Where is their land? All they want is their land. The land is on the C of O, those who own the land should be given the land.’’
‘’We say no to intimidation, Oba of Eko Epe has no right on the land, Onirete is from Ogun state and didn’t do any survey for them yet they want to claim the land in Lagos state. They are land grabbers, not surveyors. Oba Kamorudeen Animashahun and Oba Ganiu Olusegun Onirete are land grabbers, quack surveyors. The DPO of Epe local government is working with them, they are together, they are sharing the property together, the government should ask from him. He cannot be intimidating those in site to leave, he is working for the Kabiesi Oloja, Onirete, Muraina Obanjoko threeco and Saheed Musa.’’
