THE Lawal Family of Lawal village in the Baruwa area of Ipaja, in the Ayobo-Ipaja LCDA of Alimosho LGA, has discountenanced reports depicting its members as suspected land grabbers that invaded the Shalom Group of Schools in the community.
Alimoshotoday had reported how land grabbers, numbering over 40 invaded the school in the early hours of Saturday, January 28, 2023, chased away students in the hostel and blocked access to the school compound.
ICYMI: OVER 40 ‘OMO ONILE’ INVADE PRIVATE SCHOOL IN IPAJA, DISPLACE STUDENTS, PUPILS PROTEST
But the family’s spokesperson, Chief Moruf Owonla (aka Kaka), said the family only lawfully took possession of its landed property from the school owner after a futile effort to recover the property.
According to Chief Owonla, the land measuring about 57 plots was initially taken by the Federal Government and designated as a cemetery, but it was clandestinely distributed to unknown persons. The court however restored the land to the family over a decade ago.
He said: “It is not true that land grabbers invaded the school, chased the pupils away, and sealed off the premises. On the contrary, we went to the school to take lawful possession of an acre of land that the school owner hijacked from our family using the Federal Government as a shield.
“We got a possession order to recover our land on May 15, 2012, via suit no FHC/L/CS/1033/06, and another order compelling the police and other law enforcement agencies to assist us in enforcing the judgment restoring our ownership of the land.
“Since then, we have been appealing to the school owner, Mr Idowu Akinola, and others who erected buildings on our land unlawfully, to come for proper ratification. While others have been complying, the school owner has refused to comply vehemently.''
