Yemisi Izuora
A notable Chieftancy family from Epe town in Lagos known as Iposu has alleged that the Oloja of Epe Land is infringing on their property situated at Lagos Road Epe beside Lagos theatre.
The family has therefore cried out to government and the general public over the illegal usurpation and that thugs loyal to immediate past Epe council boss Olusegun Agbaje had attacked family members while working on the landed property.
Mr Iposu Sharafadeen while sheding light on the ongoing feud claimed Iposu family is the real owner of the land and was inherited from King Kosoko who was their forefather.
He further added that Chief Iposu and some other chiefs accompanied King Kosoko to Epe in 1851 and as a prominent chief under Kosoko, Iposu took some lands for fishing and farming immediately King Kosoko left Epe in the year 1852.
Chief Iposu became the sole ruler of Epe entirely between 1853 to 1875 before he died.
After the demise of Chief Iposu, the land acquired during his life time was in control of his family members until 1927.
He however disclosed that a man known as known as Otafade Odofin challenged the ownership, in the court in 1927 and in 1931 the judge of the court ruled in favour of Iposu family.
He said the family later donated some portion of the lands for the building of Epe General hospital in 1954, and also leased land for Julius Berger, Nigeria Limited for some years before the family took possession of the land back.
The family also leased land to the Western Region during Obafemi Awolowo days and it was the land they used in building the Plywood industry.
Also in 1971 some persons came again to challenge the family over the ownership of the land and the issue was taken to court and again the court ruled in favor of the family. He further stated that the aggrieved party appealed the court judgment, but the family ame out victorious and later to Supreme court, which finally settled it in 1982.
Sharafadeen said the tussle over the ownership of the land began again in 2001 when the present Oloja of Epe land Oba kamorudeen Animashaun claimed to be the owner of the land, saying the land belongs to him.
Despite the Police intervention, the Oba refused to yield to advise and kept selling the family land, he lamented.
“Oba Kamorudeen Animashaun mobilized thugs to our land, our family members and those working were injured, it was the prompt response of Nigeria Police that calmed the situation, if not it would have escalated.” he added.
Mr Sharafadeen said that the same scenario occured few days ago when Mr Segun Agbaje the former Epe Local Government Chairman came to the site to make enquiry about what is happening on the land.
“We ntimated him about what we are trying to do, he left the site without telling us his mission. He came back with armed thugs, they destroyed the fence that was erected and also injured our people and our family members, We immediately called the police for protection. Our family is fully ready to take possession of the land as advised by our family legal practitioners.
The Oloja Of Epe land, Oba kamorudeen Animashaun has been on the neck of our family members, tormenting our family members over the ownership of the land, he kept mobilizing thugs to claim the ownership of our land. He is a threat to the entire family members” Sharafadeen said.