BY MICHAEL AKINOLA
The Akinole-Oshiun family of Agidingbi, Ikeja, Lagos State, has petitioned President Bola Ahmed Tinubu over an alleged attempt by the member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, and the Ogun-Oshun River Basin Development Authority (OORBDA) to dispossess it of an approximately 8,000-square-metre parcel of land along Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi.
The family, in an open letter dated September 4, 2026 and addressed to President Tinubu, alleged that Faleke and OORBDA were using political influence and government machinery to interfere with its possession of the property despite a series of judgments by superior courts affirming its interest in the larger parcel of land.
The petition was signed by Chief Isiaka Lamina Akiti Akinole, Head of Family, and Prince Fatai Abayomi Oshiun, Secretary of the family.
The family specifically alleged that Faleke had threatened to use “presidential power” and enlist officials of the Nigeria Police Force to eject its members from the property.
It also alleged that Faleke, accompanied by his land agents and lawyers, had recently begun interfering with its possession of the property under the guise of seeking a purported long lease from OORBDA.
The family urged the President to call Faleke and OORBDA to order and ensure that the rule of law and sanctity of judicial proceedings were respected.
According to the petition, the family’s claim to the property formed part of its title to approximately 398 acres of land within and around Agidingbi.
It said its ownership had been affirmed in a series of judgments, including the 1977 judgment of the High Court of Lagos State in Suit No. ID/216/77L, Chief Sule Akinole & Anor. v. Ato Mogaji & Ors., as well as subsequent decisions of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.
The family cited, among others, Appeal Nos. CA/L/517M/99, CA/L/649M/06 and CA/L/776/2014, and Supreme Court Appeal No. SC/173/2009, Ato Mogaji & Ors. v. Chief Sule Otabiyi Akinole.
It said following the judgments confirming its legal and beneficial interest in the land, it obtained a writ of possession from the Lagos State High Court, which was executed by the Deputy Sheriff of the court in the presence of members of the Nigeria Police Force in April 2019.
The family said a Form O, being a Certificate of Writ of Execution, was subsequently issued to it.
It further stated that the execution of the writ of possession prompted the Lagos State House of Assembly to conduct a public hearing following a petition concerning alleged illegal allocations of portions of the land covered by the Supreme Court judgment.
According to the petition, officials of OORBDA, including its Director of Legal Services, participated in the proceedings.
The family claimed that following deliberations, the House of Assembly’s Rules and Business Committee resolved that the Lagos State Government should comply with the judgments of the courts and recognise the Akinole-Oshiun family as the rightful owners of the 398 acres of land, including the disputed property.
It said the Lagos State Government subsequently recognised the family’s interest by issuing land allocations and survey plans in respect of some vacant plots within the Alausa Central Business District and along Lateef Jakande Road, Agidingbi, including the subject property.
The family further claimed that it had been in “undisturbed and unhindered possession” of the 8,000-square-metre property for more than two years before the alleged recent interference.
It accused OORBDA of making what it described as “distorted and fake information/public notices” asserting ownership of the property, despite the judicial decisions and the position allegedly taken by the Lagos State Government.
The family also alleged that Faleke and OORBDA had threatened to “unleash mayhem” on its members until they vacated the property.
The petitioners, however, said they would not be intimidated or surrender the property, stressing that they would continue to defend their interests through lawful means.
The family also challenged what it described as OORBDA’s claim that there was subsisting litigation concerning the property.
It said that after becoming aware of alleged violations of the orders of possession, it instructed its lawyers in July 2024 to commence committal proceedings against several parties allegedly occupying or dealing with portions of the disputed land.
Those proceedings, instituted as Suit No. ID/923M/99 before Justice K.O. Alogba, Chief Judge of the Lagos State High Court, reportedly included OORBDA, Royal Masters School, AHCH Towers, De Martinos Hotels and Event Centre, Japaul Building and ADDAS Mall.
The family said OORBDA responded to the committal proceedings through its counsel.
However, it explained that following the intervention of the Lagos State House of Assembly to find an acceptable resolution to competing interests in Agidingbi, it instructed its counsel to withdraw the committal proceedings as an act of good faith.
It said the court, at proceedings on May 17, 2025, subsequently struck out Forms 48 and 49 earlier served on the affected parties.
Consequently, the family described as “wrong and uncanny” any continued claim by OORBDA that there was a subsisting suit in its favour concerning the property.
The petitioners appealed to President Tinubu to intervene, arguing that it would be an “aberration” for Faleke and OORBDA to bypass due process and resort to self-help despite their alleged knowledge of the family’s interest in the property.
They urged the President to ensure that government institutions and security agencies were not deployed to undermine judicial decisions or dispossess citizens of property without due process.
The family said it remained committed to resolving the dispute within the confines of the law, but insisted that its rights as established by the courts should be respected.
