IGBESA COMMUNITY PETITIONS GOVERNOR ABIODUN OVER ALLEGED CHINESE INVASION OF ANCESTRAL LANDS

The petitioners alleged that, the Chinese under the cover of contracting firm encroached the land, aided by some security operatives and officials of the Bureau to take over the land, engaging in unlawful destruction of properties and intimidating the original owners.

‘Our clients have equally been in lawful ownership, possession and occupation of the land and properties in the Igbesa Community of Ogun State for donkey years. This fact is evidenced by the various developmental activities that have been carried out by them both as individual and community as a whole. Such as residential houses, farming as well as business ventures to mention but a few. In essence the means of livelihood of most our clients are situate on these lands’, the lawyer wrote.

The counsel said, following the ugly development, it is pertinent to bring attention of the Governor to the fact that, the lives, properties and means of livelihood of the owners are being threatened by these foreigners mostly Chinese forcefully destroying, entering and occupying a vast of land belonging to the residents.

Penpushing further reports that, the petitioner said this is contrary  to the provision of Sections 33,43,44 of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended as well as section 28 of the Land Use Act, without any notice of acquisition being served or compensation whatsoever.

‘More worrisome, these foreigners started destroying our clients farm products and building maliciously with bulldozers and heavy machinery, and when our clients discovered this they quickly informed the law enforcement agents, but rather than listening to them, the police rejected their plea’

‘More embarrassing was the sudden involvement and decision of the officers and men of the Urban and Regional Planning Authority in company of Chinese threatening to destroy further any structures erected without their consent as a way of further humiliation of our clients’

Penpushing also reports that, the petitioners called on Governor Abiodun to use his office to save the indigenes from further inhumane treatment from these foreigners, and guard their lands, properties and means of livelihood from being further destroyed by these Chinese, with impunity that they are superior by birth and skin to any Nigerians over the world

The copies of the petitions were forwarded to Chief Judge of Ogun State, Commissioner of Police, Ogun/Guandong Free Trade Zone, Igbesa and Urban and Regional Planning Authority

Meanwhile, the Urban and Regional Planning Board Developmental Control Department in a letter reference number 0025998 instructed the owner/occupier of the said lands to vacate within seven days of the notice

‘Sequel to our previous stop work order, contravention and demolition notices served on you, you are hereby informed to vacate  the property within 7 days from the date of service of this notice’, the notice dated August 1, said

‘You are advised to remove all valuables within the specified time. Please note that the Board will not be liable for any loss or compensation whatsoever suffered by you for any removable property or destroyed during demolition exercise’