Following a motion on Notice, with suit No:: FHC/AB/CS/26/2021, filed at the Federal High Court of Nigeria in the Abeokuta Judicial Division, by Lawyer O.O Oniyire (Esq), on behalf of Gbenga Ibuoye Nigeria Limited, an order restraining all 10 listed defendants from further causing disturbances to the plaintiff pending the court decision on the case has been issued.
High court judge M.S Abubakar gave the order after considering a motion notice filed by the plaintiff’s lawyer O.O. Oniyire (Esq.) who sought the help of the honourable court in restraining the defendants from further interfering with the plaintiff’s peaceful operation of its mining site at Feru village.
The defendants are Abraham Idowu Akanle, Taiwo Adenike Akanle, Kazeem Ajiboye (A.K.A Oluomo), Kabiru Odunsi (A.K.A Alumi), Nurudeen Adeoye, Mutiu Oriade, Rasheed Dada (A.K.A Akeda), Faisu Abiodun, ACP Muyideen Obe, Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 2 Onikan Lagos, and Nigeria Police Force.
The plaintiff, Gbenga Ibuoye Nigeria Limited, is a laterite mining firm operating in Feru Ado-Odo Ota area of Ogun State, however, the business activities of the company have so far been halted following reports of incessant invasion of its mining site by some land grabbers and hoodlums who they alleged are empowered by the defendants. According to reports received, at least 40 mobile police officers have since January been stationed permanently on the road leading to the site to prevent access to it.
While listening to the complaints of the plaintiff, the high court judge wrote; in the circumstance, therefore, since the counsel for the first and 2nd defendants has undertaken to caution his clients not to tamper with this case, I think that will be enough for the defendants to desist from doing their illegal activities. However, I would like to emphasize that if at any time the defendants continue with their illegal activities, the attention of this Honourable Court should be drawn to it, so that appropriate order will be given immediately. All the defendants should be aware of this”
At a press conference held at the Eco Event Center, Egbeda, Lagos State, the firm owner, Alhaji Gbenga Ibuoye, lamented over the sponsored attacks and invasion of his mining site by the defendants. He condemned the undue interference from some powerful clicks within the Police Force who he says not only empowered the hoodlums to vandalize an access road he constructed for the Feru Community, a project which he said, gulped hundreds of millions of Naira but also stationed at least 40 mobile police officers, since January 20th of this year, on the site to totally halt business operations there.
Citing the court order granted him by the Federal High Court and dated 18/03/2021, Ibuoye said, “Despite the court directives restraining all the defendants from their illegal activities, it is unfortunate to note that the police officers are still on the site till this moment. This shows a total disregard for the rule of law I must say”
Also speaking at the press conference, Secretary to Feru Community, Agboola Oluwadamilare Bashiru, said what they are witnessing is a malicious attempt by some land grabbers to steal their land from them. He called on the Ogun State government to call the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2 Lagos and Ota Police Area Commander to order over their alleged roles in favouring the land grabbers over the legitimate landowners.
In a statement, Bashiru wrote, “On the 20th of January, 2021, a road linking Feru Community to Lafenwa, Itele and some parts of Lagos, was maliciously vandalized by some criminals, hoodlums and land grabbers with the help of some members of the Nigeria Police Force.”
He noted that the piece of land in question is owned by the three families of Odunfa, Onigbeyin and Falola, stating that the vandalized road was constructed by Alhaji Gbenga Ibuoye who bought land from them for his mining business. “But sadly enough, the said road is now in a pitiable condition following the destruction.” He said.
“After the destruction of our village road in January, a team of at least 40 police officers from the Itele Police Division and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, were stationed permanently at each end of the road to deprive residents its usage, and also, to halt the mining activities of a Laterite mining firm Ibuoye Nigeria Limited till this moment. Our findings revealed that the policemen were acting on the instructions of the Ota Area Commander, ACP Muyideen Obe and the Assistant Inspector General of Police Iliyasu Ahmed.”
“The three Feru family wishes to state here that apart from Alhaji Gbenga Ibuoye who legally purchased land from us, we did not at any point in time sell any portion of our land to Nurudeen Adeoye, Rasheed Dada, or any person or group of persons he is parading themselves as representatives. Whoever is having such dealings with him should demand a refund of their money.” He said, “To note that the police are aiding criminals and land grabbers in such nefarious acts is quite unfortunate and demeaning of a professional institution that is saddled with the responsibility of providing security to well-meaning Nigerians.” He stated.
Reacting to enquiries from journalists, the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Iliyasu Ahmed, has however denied any knowledge or involvement in the whole saga.