Ibadan Hotelier, Dotun Sanusi ,Akintola Family In Legal Tussle Over Disputed Landed Property

Chairman, Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, Ibadan, Mogaji Dotun Sanusi, Baale of Akanran in Ona-Ara local government of Oyo state , Sikiru Rasheed Emiayefe and one Chief Yekini Obisesan have been accused by one Akintola family in Akanran of unlawful possession of their ancestral family land of about 295 acres of land.

Mr Sanusi, a prominent name in the hospitality business and the two others were accused by the Akintolas of using thugs to forcefully seize their land.

The family, In a statement issued by the lawyers to the Akintola family, G.E Akhigbe, under the instructions of the AKINTOLA family stated that Mr Sanusi connived with some traditional rulers in Ibadan to forcefully take their land.

The statement, signed by a member of the family, Obisesan Oladimeji, narrated the ordeal of the family in the hands of hoodlums allegedly acting at the behest of Sanusi and others.

“On the 8th of April 2023, we went to our ancestral family land for prayers. To our surprise, we saw that some signposts have been erected on the land. While we were still trying to understand what was going on on the property, some hoodlums came out from the bush, fully armed with guns, cutlasses and other sharp harmful objects—they had the word “militant” boldly written on their outfits.

“They harassed us, and issued threats. The thugs told us, ‘who do you think you are to be having land altercations with the influential Chief ILAJI, the owner of ILAJI Hotels and Sports Resorts,” the statement reads in part.

“Beyond the harassment, we were moved to the palace of the Baale Akanran, where we were beaten and tortured at the order of the Baale. Our plea and protest fell on deaf ears. After the ordeal at the palace. We were subsequently taken to the police station,” the statement added.

In order to seek redress, the family filed a complaint at the Force criminal investigation and Intelligence Department.

“At this juncture, we want to commend the Nigerian police force and the Inspector General of Police for their efforts on the matter as they have stood for justice and have refused to be prejudiced concerning the matter, the efforts of the Gender Department of the Force Criminal Investigation and intelligence Department cannot be over-gainsaid as they have acted in the interest of justice,” they said.

Speaking on the circumstances surrounding the land, the family stated that the matter has the subject of judicial intervention noting that five acres out of the over 300 acres were awarded to Eniayefe following a judgement by the court in January 2020. However, despite the undertaken signed by both parties involved, they continued to sell the land illegally.

“Those who are bringing about disruption of peace and justice are only doing it because of greed as they know the truth concerning the matter but Engineer Dotun Sanusi , Sikiru Rasheed Emiayefe , the Baale of Akanran and Chief Yekini Obisesan are only being used as agents of oppression to unlawfully possess the ancestral inheritance of the Akintola family.

“The names mentioned above do not hold or have title to any land on the AKINTOLA family land except the five acres which the High court gave them judgement on the 19th day of March 2020, yet it is still these same court judgement that they have been citing and have sold almost 200 acres of the Akintola ancestral family land,” it reads.

Meanwhile, report has it that Chairman, Ilaji Hotels and Sports Resort, Mogaji Dotun Sanusi alongside 22 Baales in Ona -Ara local government had petitioned the State Governor, Engr. Seyi Makinde and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba over unlawful arrests, harassment, intimidation and threats to lives of the residents of Akanran in Ibadan by an alleged land grabber aided by officers from a Deputy Inspector
General of Police, Abuja.

Also petitioned were the Chief Judge of Oyo State; Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone XI; Commissioner of Police, Oyo State; Director, DSS, Oyo State and the Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the State.

Sanusi alongside other petitioners; Yekini Obisesan (Baale Akanran); Baale Jimoh Aderemi (Baale Bioku-Gbogun); Baale David Ibikunle (Baale Oke Ogun); Baale Moses Taiwo (Baale Ojoku); Baale Suara Ogunyemi (Baale Akita Araowu); Baale Alawaye Toheeb Oyebode (Baale Alawaye) and several others, described the ongoing several invitations being extended to residents in the area as provocative.

In the petition dated Wednesday April 19, 2023 and titled: Threat to Life, Unlawful arrest, intimidation and illegal acquisition of 95 acres of land at Akintola village, Akanran, Ona Ara Local Government of Oyo State,’was jointly signed by Sanusi and the Council of Baales, Ona Ara Local Government.

According to them, ‘after a crucial meeting we held in Akanran on Wednesday April 19, 2023, we write to inform your office about threat to life, unlawful arrest, intimidation, harassment, land grabbing, illegal acquisition of 95 acres of land at Akintola Village, Akanran.

‘We want to place it on record that the disputed land has been resolved by the Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, in the suit with number: I/443/2014, which was delivered on Wednesday 19th Day of March 2020 by Justice G.A. Sunmonu, in favour of Alhaji Rasheed Eniayenfe Ojo, and Good Foundation Social Club, who were the defendants in the case.

‘The seven claimants in the case are Alhaji Moshood Gbolagade Obisesan, Mr. Babatunde Babajide, Latifu Ejibiyi Akintola, Isiaka Ejibiyi Akintola, Musa Ejibiyi Akintola, Bilikisu Sangodairo Akintola, and Afusat Sangodiran Akintola.

‘However, the claimants, with the assistance of Akinrogun of Ibeju Lekki Chief Jelili Jimoh Akande, in disregard to the judgment of the high court, mobilised his men and other land grabbers to the hitherto disputed land to dislodge the legal owners/occupants.

‘The claimants in the case did not appeal the judgment of the high court till date. The fact that they did not win in court and they did not want to go back to court because the evidence before the court will always vindicate the legal owners and occupants of the land, is something to look into seriously. Therefore, they have resorted to self-help, which necessitated this petition.

‘During the unlawful invasion, the occupants of the land were harassed, extorted, and dehumanised, while the Baale of Akanran Chief Yekini Obisesan, was forced to flee his domain. The occupants were alleged of threat to life and misdemeanours.

‘One of the victims of the nefarious activities of the land grabbers is Alhaju Sikiru Rasheed Eniayenfe. He was arrested at Akanran and was later moved to the Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Area 10, Abuja, via the Divisional Police Headquarters, Orita-Challenge, Ibadan without recourse to the Oyo State Police Command, Eleyele, Ibadan. The operation was led by ASP Samson.

‘One of the leaders of the communities, Engineer Dotun Sanusi, Chief Executive Officer, Ilaji Hotels and Sport Resorts, has also been put on arrest radar of the said police department, Area 10, Abuja, on April 27 2023 at 11:00a.m., over cooked threat to life, assault, criminal conspiracy, and trespass.

‘He has been asked to report for interview with the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Unit (FCCIID) through the office of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Gender), Force Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department, Area 10, Abuja, DCP Oki Emesim Rita Oyintare.

‘It must be stated that Enginer Dotun Sanusi did not have land in the disputed land. In fact, he does not have anything to do with the land. Without an iota of doubt, Engineer Sanusi is an influential businessman and ASP Samson, who has been a terror to the people of Akanran, might have roped him into the mater with a view to ensuring that he does not intervene to reject injustice for us and our people.

‘With this development, especially the unlawful arrest, intimidation, and harassment, the Akinrogun of Ibeju Lekki is forcing the peace-loving people of Akanran to be leaving the community in droves. The land grabbers have also threatened that they would grab 250 acres of land for their Paragon Estate in Akanran.

‘To this end, the community through Alhaji Rasheed Eniayenfe Ojo has filed a case to the Land Grabbing Unit, Oyo State Real Properties Protection Law 2016, against the claimants at Oyo State High Court.

‘The Baales and Elders have been prevailing on our people not to take laws into their hands, hence the decision to notify your office about this ugly situation in our community for your prompt action.

‘Copies of the judgment on the land and other correspondences have been attached with this petition for your perusal. Also, the list, containing the names and signatures of Baales in attendance at the meeting, has been attached with this petition likewise.

‘We, therefore, appeal to you to use your good office to investigate the matter and bring the culprits to book,’ they submitted,” the petition read

Meanwhile, all efforts to get chief Sanusi over the matter proved abortive as he was said to have traveled outside the country.