Sarakis’ lawyers dilly dally over ‘Ile Arugbo’ negotiation as legal matters arise

The law firm representing the family of Olusola Saraki, second republic senate leader, over the “Ile Arugbo” dispute has written the Kwara state government to postpone a negotiation meeting between the two parties.

The government had demolished “Ile Arugbo”, the political home of the Sarakis in Ilorin, following the revocation of the land which the government said was illegally allocated to Asa Investments Limited, a private firm.

The Sarakis had taken legal action against the government, but later sought to settle the matter out of court. 

Both parties were to meet on January 27, but the lawyers again wrote the government to give them more time as they were yet to reach their clients. 

“Since the receipt of your letter referred above on 24th day of January, 2020 in the open court, we are unable to reach our clients for briefings,” the letter read.

“In view of the above, we urge a postponement of the meeting till 6th of February, 2020 or thereafter but not before 6th February, 2020.” 

One of the lawyers who spoke with TheCable said the government had agreed to the postponement and efforts are ongoing to “reach” their clients before the rescheduled date. 

The lawyer also denied rumours that the Sarakis are settling out of court because they found out the land was illegally acquired. 

“It is not correct to say we are begging the government. We are doing that on the advice of the court,” he said. 

“And we are not begging them. If we sit and we are unable to make headway, we go back to court and start hearing. We are ready for the case. The court said we should reach a settlement and we are trying it, but if they give us unnecessary terms, we return to court.” 

But a source said the Sarakis are deliberately delaying the meeting because they do not have a good case to present.

The source said Saraki’s name is not in the company registration documents of Asa Investment Limited, the allottee.

The company has not filed annual returns at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) for 10 years. It has also not made tax returns.

In a report, THISDAY quoted a top official of Kwara government as saying the two shareholders of Asa Investments Limited are dead.

According to the newspaper, a status report on the company issued by the CAC identified Bodurin Alaro and Alabi Agoro as the shareholders of Asa Investments Limited.

“Saraki is not the owner/shareholder of the company (Asa Investments) that the offer of land was made to,” the official who did not want to be named, was quoted to have said.

“Under Nigerian laws, a limited liability company must have two shareholders. If either one or both are dead or extinct, the company ceases to exist.”