Chief Ganiyu Egunjobi, the Executive Chairman Agege Local Government in Lagos State, has urged the state government to investigate the claim by Edwards Ayo-Odugbesan, a former deputy speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, that he owned a property demolished by the council in the area.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the property in question once stood on a portion of land, claimed by the council, at 47 Old Ogba Road beside MKO Abiola Market, Agege.
The demolished building was used as a school, Edwards Private School, by Ayo-Odugbesan.
Egunjobi, in an interview with NAN on Sunday, said that the property was situated on the council’s land, which, he said, had been part of the former Abiola Market.
The chairman said that the council demolished all structures on the land, including the portion occupied by the school, based on approvals by the Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority.
“The land is evidenced by the council’s survey plan and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), issued by the Lagos State Government.
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“The claim by Ayo-Odugbesan possessing the governor’s consent on the land must be investigated.
“How could he have been granted the governor’s consent for the land when same state government long awarded the same land to the council, based on our survey plan.
“We have original copies of requisite title documents obtained by the local government as evidence.
“We have nothing to hide, we are making our documents available to the public: survey plan and C of O and he should come with his own, for verification at Lagos State Lands Bureau.
“We are convinced beyond doubt that his so-called governor’s consent was obtained with a fraudulent survey plan,” he said.
The chairman said that the demolition was carried out within the ambit of the law.
He said that the council acted within the law by obtaining the approval of LASPPPA, to demolish all structures on the land.
“We have our position on the debate about the existence or non-existence of Edwards Private School, but it does not matter.
“Let us assume there was a private school there, does that remove or diminish the fact that the government owns the land?
“Moreover, we are talking of a for-profit organisation, not a charity organisation. In good conscience, I would not look the other way and allow any individual or organisation to rob Agege of its properties, no matter the status of the usurper.
“My overriding concern is that I swore an oath to serve the council’s interest, which I will continue to abide by till the end of my tenure,” he said.
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