Hoodlums Attack Oba-elect’s Palace in Lagos Over Land Dispute ~ NewsEdge

Pandemonium broke out in Isheri Oke, a community located in the Ikosi/Isheri Local Council Development Area of Lagos State, on Tuesday when hoodlums attacked the palace of the Oba-elect of Isheri Oke, Jamiu Odunsi. The attack was carried out to express their disapproval of the execution of a court judgment in the community. The hoodlums, armed with guns, cutlasses, stones, and bottles, injured people at the palace and destroyed the window and closed-circuit television installed on the building, and vandalized vehicles parked on the premises.

The protest began at around 10 am when the hoodlums clustered at the front gate of the palace to stage their protest against the ongoing execution of the court judgment in the community. The protest soon escalated into chaos, with some hoodlums attacking the palace and the people on the premises, while others protested on adjoining streets and set bonfires on the road.

An eyewitness, Tajudeen Odunsi, said he and family members and guests of the Oba-elect were holding a meeting at the palace when the hoodlums invaded the premises. He reported that the hoodlums attacked and injured about five people, damaged vehicles and windows of the building, and stole some property, including phones. The hoodlums also destroyed the CCTV footage at the palace. When security agents arrived, the hoodlums ran away.

According to the Secretary of the Olofin Chieftaincy Family, Akintunde Kudoro, the attack was initiated by people who were against the execution of a judgment an Appeal Court granted in favor of his family on March 16, 2022. Kudoro explained that when they got the judgment, they made publications in newspapers and wrote letters to people notifying them of the judgment, but none of them responded. They decided to approach the court to execute and collect their land. The court approved the order for the sheriff to go and execute, and the sheriff went through the Commissioner of Police, who gave them the police that accompanied them for the execution.

Reacting to the development, the Oshorun of Isheri Oke, Saheed Olayinka-Pasida, said the judgment being executed was before the Supreme Court. He explained that they were not a party to the suit; here is Isheri and Isheri belongs to Oshorun. The matter is already before the Supreme Court, as they have filed a stay of execution on the matter.

The Baale of Isheri-Oke, Chief Albert Bankole, said he was informed on Monday night that some persons who claimed to have a judgment were planning an attack on the community. They attempted to report to the DPO, but they could not see him. When the hoodlums began attacking the community, the people came out to resist them so that they could not enter further.

A certified true copy of the judgment with case file CA/L/362/2010 and the notice pasted on buildings in the community that reportedly triggered the protest was sighted by our correspondent. The notice read that the statutory right of occupancy of the Olofin of Isheri Chieftaincy Family over the parcel of land measuring 151.656 hectares was upheld by the court.

In summary, the attack on the palace of the Oba-elect of Isheri Oke was a result of the execution of a court judgment in favor of the Olofin Chieftaincy Family. The Baale of Isheri-Oke reported that some persons who claimed to have a judgment were planning an attack on the community. The judgment is already before the Supreme Court