Sequel to the chieftaincy and land grabbing crisis in Okegun-Odofin area of Ibeju Lekki, the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions and LASIEC, has recommended that the baaleship of one Mufutau Olamiji be rescinded in order for peace to be restored in the community.
The committee also recommended that the creation of Okegun-Ladedseso within the Okegun-Odofin community was an illegal exercise that cannot stand.
In a document obtained by THISDAY on the outcome of the public sittings on the issue by the Hon. Adefunmilayo Tejuosho-led committee, it was gathered that the three-member team met with all the parties and stakeholders on the issue before arriving at its decision.
It would be recalled that in June, hundreds of residents of Okegun Odofin in Ibeju Lekki area of Lagos State had stormed the State House of Assembly to stage a peaceful protest over the baale stool of Okegun Odofin. They protested the creation of Okegun Ladeseso within the comminuty allegedly by the Onibeju of Ibeju Lekki, Oba Olusegun Salami and the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji A petition from the Okegun-Odofin community urged the assembly to call to order Olamiji, who was said to have proclaimed himself as the Baale of Okegun-Ladeseso to order. It was called on the House for urgent intervention.
The petition further said that there is never a place known as Okegun-Ladeseso which Olamiji claims to be Baale in the entire stretch of Ibeju Lekki, alleging that Olamiji has the backing of the Onibeju of Ibeju-Lekki, Oba Olusegun Salami.
Consequent to the petition, the Committee had three different meetings with the parties on the issue, including, officials of the Ministry of Local Government and Community affairs, the respondents-Onibeju of Ibeju, Oba Olusegun Salami, Alhaji Raufu Otakunmaya and Prince Bayo Arase. Other invited parties were the petitioners which include, Prince Alade Ogunlana, Chief Lateef Folami Jinadu, Mr. Lateef Kamoru, the Baale of Okegun-Odofin, Chief Ismaila Ogunkoya, Olamiji, among others.
According to the committee, its findings after conducting a fair hearing to all parties include a pronounced complicity of the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs in the whole episode.
“The committee was able to establish a strong connivance between the top officials of the Ministry and the respondents to subvert the system by clandestinely working to give Mufutau Olamiji leverage over Baale Ismaila Ogunkoya.
“That used to be a cordial and harmonious relationship between the petitioners and respondents in Okegun-Odofin community at Ibeju which is being gradually eroded away by conflicting personal interests over various land and transactions going on in that community.â€
Making its recommendation to the leadership of the Assembly under Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, the committee spelt out four recommendations that could restore peace to the community.
“That the Committee found absurd and unacceptable the motive behind the creation or carving out of the newly created Okegun-Ladeseso out of Okegun-Odofin, mainly to checkmate the influence of Baale Ismaila Ogunkoya. Hence, the Committee recommends that the baaleship of Mufutau Olamiji be rescinded in order to bring a lasting peace to that community.
“Accordingly, Baale Ismaila Ogunkoya remains the only Baale of Okegun-Odofin, which includes the purported newly created Okegun-Ladeseso, thus, such new creation should be taken as null and void.â€
The committee also recommended that all unlawful and reckless land transactions at Okeogun-Idofin by Oba Salami and Mufutau Olamiji should henceforth stop.
“The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs should take appropriate action by revoking the gazette given to Mufutau Olamiji, who was maliciously installed after the coronation of Baale Ismaila Ogunkoya by Oba Salami himself.â€
The Lagos Assembly is yet to debate the report as at press time.
