Olubadan Halts Demolition Of 186 Houses In Ibadan

Rashidi Ladoja

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Rashidi Ladoja, has stopped the proposed demolition of about 186 houses at Isokan Estate Extension, Alao-Akala, Elebu area of Ibadan in Ido Local Government Area of Oyo State. Recall that the private residence of the Olubadan in Ibadan North Local Government Area was besieged on Sunday, around 12:30 p.m. by truckloads of Isokan Extension landlords, who informed the monarch that the rooftops of their houses had been removed between Thursday and Friday ahead of a planned demolition following an Ibadan High Court judgment in favour of one Mogaji Olopade Taofeek Abiola, also known as Mogaji Oloyin.

In an attempt to save the affected houses that had already been marked for demolition, the Olubadan gave the landlords the opportunity to repair their damaged rooftops after a second meeting with relevant stakeholders held at his Bodija residence.

The monarch further warned land grabbers to stay away from the area, insisting that the disputed land is not available for illegal acquisition.

His words, “Land grabbing is like an interlocking web of complex connections involving diverse interests that need to be unravelled.

I know each of you very well. While we entertain no illusion as to the gravity of your responsibility, I have no doubt in my mind that you have the capacity to carry out the responsibility.

The proposed legal framework would entail the passage of bye-laws by local government councillors, in accordance with the Land Use Act, to provide for the creation of special tribunals that would give accelerated hearing to cases of land grabbing in Ibadan and specify sanctions.

By so doing, we would be able to know who is trespassing on whose land and determine the next line of action to take.

The Olubadan residence was besieged by truckloads of Isokan Extension landlords at about 12:30 p.m. on Sunday. They informed Kabiyesi that their house rooftops had been removed between Thursday and Friday ahead of demolition following an Ibadan High Court judgment in favour of Mogaji Olopade Taofeek Abiola, also known as Mogaji Oloyin.”

WOW.