Olubadan Ladoja inaugurates Legal Committee to tackle land grabbing 

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has declared that land grabbers responsible for tarnishing the city’s reputation will soon face tough times.

The monarch issued the warning on Tuesday at the Olubadan Palace, Oke Aremo, Ibadan, while inaugurating a five-member committee of legal practitioners saddled with the responsibility of addressing the menace of land grabbing from a legal standpoint.

The development was contained in a statement signed by the Olubadan’s media aide, Mr. Adeola Oloko, and made available to newsmen in Ibadan.

The committee members include Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Barrister Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), Yinka Okunade, Rahman Abiodun AbdulRaheem, and Tunji Thomas. Barrister Adetunbi, however, was unavoidably absent at the inauguration.

Charging the committee to collaborate with professionals from other sectors such as town planning, surveying, and security agencies, Oba Ladoja said they should “hit the ground running” and submit their recommendations within 21 days.

“Land grabbing in Ibadan is an interlocking web of complex connections involving diverse interests that must be unraveled,” the monarch said. “While we entertain no illusion as to the gravity of your assignment, I have no doubt in my mind about your capacity to deliver.”

Oba Ladoja clarified that the newly inaugurated legal advisory committee would complement the efforts of the existing committee on land matters headed by Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori. He added that both the Olubadan-in-Council and the Oyo State Government share a common commitment to eradicating the menace.

Also speaking, the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, commended the initiative, describing land grabbing as a dangerous trend that endangers residents. He called for the creation of anti-land grabbing tribunals across all 11 local government areas in Ibadanland to ensure swift justice.

Responding on behalf of the committee, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) thanked the Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council for the opportunity to serve. He described the appointment as “a call to service of the fatherland,” assuring that the committee would work closely with the Oyo State Government and Ibadan stakeholders to stamp out the scourge.

He added that the committee’s work would reinforce the state government’s ongoing efforts to combat land grabbing across Oyo State.

The Olubadan-in-Council meeting, presided over by Oba Ladoja, had in attendance several senior chiefs including the Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola; Otun Balogun, Oba Kola Adegbola; Otun Olubadan-Designate, Oba Eddy Oyewole; Osi Balogun, Oba Olubunmi Isioye-Dada; Osi Olubadan-Designate, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi; Asipa Olubadan-Designate, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Ekerin Balogun, Oba Akeem Adewoyin; and Ekerin Olubadan-Designate, Oba Adebayo Akande.

Other notable figures present included the Bobajiro of Ibadanland and former Oyo State Head of Service, Chief Tajudeen Aremu, and the Ajiroba of Ibadanland, Professor Soji Adejumo.
Source : The Sun