Olubadan supends Ibadan chief over alleged land grabbing

Olalekan Balogun, Olubadan of Ibadan, has supended Olawale Oladoja, Mogaji of Akinsola village, over land grabbing issues. 

The suspension was announced on Friday after an emergency meeting attended by members of the Olubadan’s advisory council.

“Landlords of about 200 houses in Akinsola on Thursday staged a protest and reported Oladoja to Oba Balogun for ejecting them from their respective houses,” Oladele Ogunsola, media aide of the Olubadan, said in a statement.

“He (Oladoja) had gone on to lock and red-marked their buildings.”

The affected landlords said Oladoja claimed that he had secured court judgments to prove that the lands upon which they built their houses were not legally sold to them.

“The complaints and the public outcry which greeted the matter led to the emergency meeting conveyed on Friday which had in attendance the Olubadan and members of his advisory council,” the statement said.

“Others in attendance were representatives of Ibadan Mogajis, led by Chief Asimiyu Adepoju, and the representatives of the affected landlords.

“At the meeting, Mogaji Oladoja told Olubadan and members of his advisory council that he made several attempts to resolve the matter before he decided to take action.

“He said even though the matter had been reported to the Olubadan, he didn’t wait for the conclusion of the palace intervention before he approached the security agents for the execution of the court judgment that gave his family the right of ownership of the disputed land.”

The advisory council was said to have submitted several facts indicating that Oladoja did not act in accordance to the code of conduct.

“He did not follow the code of conduct usually handed down to both Mogajis and Baales when being appointed,” the statement added.

“The Ashipa Olubadan, Oba Biodun Kola-Daisi who spoke on behalf of the council, blamed Oladoja for taking law into his hands in spite of the fact that the case was before the palace.

“They (the Mogajis) unanimously agreed that Oladoja’s action was inconvenient and an embarrassment to the Olubadan stool and Ibadanland.

“Olubadan therefore pronounced Oladoja’ suspension as Mogaji, saying he crossed the line and ordered him to tender public apology to the affected landlords.”

Oladoja was also ordered to tender a public apology to the affected landlords.