LASG Asks IG to Investigate Killing of Adenuga’s In-Law

•   Finally issues white paper on Lekki unrest

By Gboyega Akinsanmi

The Lagos State Government yesterday asked the Inspector General of Police (IG), Mr. Solomon Arase, to investigate the murder of Managing Director of Lekki Worldwide Investment Limited, Mr. Tajudeen Disu.

Disu, an in-law of Chairman of Globacom Limited (GLO), Mr. Mike Adenuga, was gruesomely murdered on October 12 while resolving land dispute between indigenes of Okunraye Community and some private companies planning to embark on project development in Lekki Free Trade Zone (LFTZ). 

But in a statement yesterday, the state government issued the white paper on the report of the Judicial Commission of Inquiry, which the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, constituted to look into Disu’s gruesome murder and civil disturbances raging in the LFTZ.

 The statement said the state government accepted most recommendations of the tribunal, which included a directive asking the inspector-general through the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Fatai Owoseni, to take over investigation into Disu’s gruesome killing 

The statement, which was signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, said the directive became imperative owing to the need to resolve the mystery surrounding Disu’s killing.

It noted that leaders of the Okunraye community where Disu was murdered on October 12, 2015 had claimed that the late Disu was killed by a stray bullet from mobile policemen attached to the area, while the police in turn issued a statement denying the allegation.

It added that the state government in the white paper directed the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Cooperatives to ensure that all outstanding compensation issues are resolved as soon as possible.

It explained that the ministry was equally directed to ensure that the resettlement committee “is reconstituted in line with the provisions of the Memorandum of Understanding to enable it perform satisfactorily.”

It said the state government had directed that a LFTZ Peace and Security Committee comprising of the Police and representatives of investors of the affected villages be constituted to receive complaints from any party in the zone and will also have further responsibility of taking action to resolve issues referred to, as spelt out in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

The statement also said the state government directed the Lands Bureau to give priority “to preparation of Certificate of Occupancy  (Cof O) of excised land. The state government accepted the recommendation of the tribunal that under no circumstance should payments, irrespective of how insignificant it is, be paid in cash.”

 The statement added that all payments should be by cheque, duly receipted by the payee in a format that carries the said payee’s name, picture and signature, noting that the state government accepted a recommendation that there should be an effective mode of communication and dissemination of  the information among all inhabitants of LFTZ. 

Consequently, the statement noted that the state government had directed the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs through the Special Adviser for Communities and Communication to create a platform for regular dissemination of information.