Concerns Over Alleged Notorious Land Grabbing Activities Of Osun Monarch

Olu-Olota of Ilotaland in Olaoluwa local government area of Osun State, Oba Shuaib Adetunji Akano, has been accused of unlawfully selling a parcel of land belonging to some family compounds in the town.

According to a press release by the Ta’awunu Human Rights Initiative (THURIST), signed by its Director General, S.A Tadese ESQ, the land in question belongs to Eguntola, Okemakinde, Olarinde, and Oguntoye (also known as the Olota family) of Olota’s compound, Feesu Road, Iwo, Osun State.

OSUN DEFENDER gathered that the parcel of land is said to be located at Olota, Idi-Araba, Oke-Oba, Iwo.

The medium also learnt that Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Umar Abba had made efforts to intervene in the matter.

But Oba Adetunji, in an attempt not to honour police invitation, forwarded another petition to the Assistant Inspector General of Police in charge of Zone XI, Abeere.

READ: Alleged Incompetence: Osun Lawmaker Drags Journalist, Critics To Police

Further findings revealed that that a District Customary Court, sitting in Ogbaagba has delivered a judgement preventing the monarch from selling the land without the family’s consent.

THURIST therefore called on the Nigerian Police, Oluwo of Iwo, and other stakeholders to wade into the matter before it degenerates into a crisis.

The statement reads, ”The said parcel of land which belongs to our clients was surveyed in June, 2021 and the relevant documents thereof presently in our clients’ custody.

“To the chagrin of our clients, OBA SHUAIB ADETUNJI AKANO in utter abuse of his authority and position, and disregard for the rule of law entered upon the said land and illegally sold same to unknown third parties.

“And the Complainants upon being aware of this unlawful action, challenged OBA SHUAIB ADETUNJI AKANO to explain the ground behind his conduct of which till date no reasonable cause has been given by him.

“Rather than submit himself towards an amicable resolution of the wrong done the complaint OBA SHUIAB ADETUNJI AKANO has unceremoniously paraded himself as the community’s number one citizen, and tyrannically boasts as being above his subjects, authority and even the law.

“Resulting from the above, the complainant being a law-abiding citizen approached the office of the Commissioner of Police via the petition dated 16/08/2024 for redress against the king’s criminal trespass.

“Sequel to this, the office of the Commissioner of Police, Osun state invited both parties for an amicable resolution. However, in an attempt to dishonor this invitation and escape investigation, OBA SHUIAB ADETUNJI AKANO wrote a frivolous petition against the complainant to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police without an attempt to honour the invitation of the Commissioner of Police of Osun state.

“It is imperative to put it to the notice of the general public that this complaint against OBA SHUIAB ADETUNJI AKANO (OLU OLOTA OF ILOTA LAND) on account of illegal land grabbing has become very notorious. And amongst others, is the petition of MRS. BILAL MUSILAT ABEKI dated 12th August, 2024 wherein at the end of the investigation, OBA SHUIAB ADETUNJI AKANO (OLU OLOTA OF ILOTA LAND) was found culpable, and consequently paid the total sum of #500,000 as damages to MRS. BILAL MUSILAT ABEKI.

“We put it further that, there is a subsisting consent judgment of the District Customary Court, Ogbagba, Osun state wherein it was delivered that OBA SHUIAB ADETUNJI AKANO (OLU OLOTA OF ILOTA LAND) shall not make an attempt to sell any family land in and around Ilota community without the consent of the family’s principal members.

“We therefore, beseech the office of Inspector General of police to take over the matter and bring same under their fair and unbiased investigation. “

All efforts to get the reaction of Oba Adetunji proved abortive as OSUN DEFENDER could not reach his phone and he did not respond to terse message sent to his line at the time of filing this report.