Ibadan Businessman Petitions Oyo AG over Activities of Land Grabbers

Kemi Olaitan in Ibadan

An Ibadan-based businessman, Mr Dapo Davies, has petitioned the Oyo State Attorney General(AG) and Commissioner for Justice, over alleged involvement of a staff of his Ministry  in shielding some land racketeers in a case involving himself, staff of Ministry of Lands and Alhaji Kamilu Orotoye.

Davies in a letter signed by Niyi Okanlawon on behalf of his counsel, Babatunde Oni & Co Chamber, dated 6th September, 2023, and made available to THISDAY, titled : Re – “Suit  No: 1/380/2013  Between: Mr. Dapo Davies Vs  Alhaji  Kamilu Orotoye & ORS”, accused one Mr. Moshood (Esq), a Senior Counsel at the state Ministry of Justice for aiding and assisting some land grabbers who are 1st and  2nd defendants in the suit in erecting building on a disputed land situate at Ogunpa, Oke Padre, Ibadan.

He maintained that the action of Moshood is targeted at subverting justice and also aiding an action that are likely to cause breach of public peace.

The petition read: “Our client instituted the above suit in respect of his land situate, lying and being at Ogunpa, Oke Padre, Ibadan via the Writ of Summons dated 14 May, 2023, wherein the Attorney General of Oyo State was sued as the 4th Defendant, the matter had already came up before Hon. Justice Akintola sitting as vacation judge on the following dates: 12th July, 2023, 17th August, 2023, 25th August, 2023, with the appearance of Mr. Moshood, Senior State Counsel with his Senior Colleague on the proceeding of 17th August 2023 for the 3rd-5th Defendants.

“Having had the notice of the pending suit, the 1st and 2nd Defendants commenced construction on the disputed land which necessitated, Our Client to file an application for interlocutory injunction dated 18th August, 2023, which was duly reacted to via the Counter Affidavit filed by the 1st and 2nd Defendants.

“The said Application was fixed for hearing on the 5th September, 2023, however, court did not sit due to an industrial strike

“We are reliably informed by Our Client that more to his chagrin, the 1st & 2nd Defendants have accelerated construction on the disputed land on the instruction of Mr. Moshood, a Senior Counsel of your Ministry, who claims to be acting under the instructions of the AG.

“As if that was not enough,  the said Mr. Moshood has confronted our client on the said land while 1st and 2nd defendants were constructing on the disputed land.

“We must state at this juncture that the conduct of Mr. Moshood of this Ministry is not only attempt to subvert justice, but also undermines the sanctity of the legal profession which is capable of stirring breach of public peace, should our client react that grave lawlessness.

“Our client is peace-loving and a law-abiding citizen, who in spite of the absence of interlocutory injunction over his property subject to litigation at Lebanon Street, Dugbe, Ibadan, which was engulfed by fire few years ago did not take step to renovate the property because of the respect he has for the Rule of Law and the Court.

Against the backup of the above, we most humbly appeal to this highly esteemed office that the Mr Moshood be put to order, as his conduct falls below the standard of this hallowed Ministry.

“We hope our client will be accorded with dispatch it deserves in the interest of justice.”