Why did you invite us?

To speak on the oppression of our family by Chief Fatai Abiodun Lawal, the Olumegbon of Lagos and head of Idejo clan in Lagos State.

Before the ascension of Chief Fatai Abiodun Lawal to the throne of Olumegbon, there was Lamidi Yusuf Kalifo. Our family relationship with the palace of Olumegbon then was very cordial. But since Fatai Lawal ascended the throne of Olumegbon of Lagos, we have been facing oppression from the palace whereas it was the Odugbese Abereoje family who fought the legal battle of Ajah. We went to court, our father, the late Sola Abereoje, was the only person who testified, from the High Court to Appeal Court and Supreme Court. Then there were terms of settlement. When the terms of settlement happened, not quite long Kalifo died, but in the litigation it was L.Y. Kalifo, S.S. Abereoje for the Odugbese and Olumegbon family that fought it and when they won it was the two families against the Ajah, Ojupon and Ogunsemo families. Now that everything is getting settled, my family is being put aside and oppressed.

How?

Now, after the ascension of Fatai Lawal, they carried out oppression on the Odugbese family because of our landed property, which our forefathers were using for farming. At least, after the terms of settlement, everything in Ajah ought to be shared equally with the Odugbese and Olumegbon families. Odugbese and Olumegbon are one family. In 1896 when Kalifo was in court, when they asked him who this man is, he said Chief Abereoje is my brother. Now, we have become enemies of this incumbent Olumegbon, and the reason is because they want to make it a winner-takes-all.

There are criminals everywhere now in Ajah, they go about freely destroying people's property, all in the name of seeking gratification money. The land sold by our family when Kalifo was alive, the owner who bought it from Odugbese fenced the place, but Olumegbon people have gone to destroy the fence without informing us, who had been at Ajah even before his great grandfather was born. He thinks that my people are not entitled to that land because he wants to make it a winner-takes-all.

Since all these are happening, what steps have you taken to seek redress?

We have written several petitions to the Lagos State Government, the Commissioner of Police, the Governor, and the Inspector General of Police, which I can substantiate with several replies here (shows copies).

What happened after?

It is like this man is a sacred cow of the government. I wonder why Chief Olumegbon cannot be arrested or prosecuted over his activities in Ajah.

I am sure most of your papers carried the story of what happened in Ajah, and now he is at it again. He went to the land of Ajiwe, which we have sold, and destroyed the place with his notorious boys. To settle the matter, we had to seek redress in court, but I am sure he is having some monarchical backing somehow and they are trying to manipulate justice.

Like how?

We took the Lagos State Government to court over our compulsorily acquired properties, we were asked to withdraw the case, so we excised some portions of land with the other nine families, which we called 10 families at Osomi Estate in Ajah. But Chief Lawal and his notorious boys have continued to carry out oppressions against us over the land. These boys always come on motorcycles when they want to destroy things, and with dangerous weapons like knives, daggers and guns. They have started weeding the place and we have written petitions to the Commissioner of Police.

The Lagos State Government set up a panel chaired by Justice Morenikeji. The report of that panel has never seen the light of the day. We wonder what the Lagos State Government is doing. Or is it a ruse? Let the government release the white paper now.

The government doesn't seem to be serious about the whole thing. Only one person cannot be oppressing the whole community. Olumegbon has become the Osama bin Ladin of Ajah land.

But some months ago, right in his palace at Ajah, he told us that peace had finally come to stay in Ajah and the people are now living like one family. So, how come all these you are telling us?

The situation here is peaceful because nobody wants to die now, but Chief Olumegbon still carries on his notorious activity of destroying people's property. I want the state government to caution or even arrest him, then let us all who are being oppressed come together to face him. Let the state government publish the report of Justice Morenikeji Onalaja panel, let it be acted upon so that there would be peace in the land. Now, we all participated in the making of Olumegbon in Ajah land. My head of family, Chief Abereojo, was about to be killed including four of our members over this matter when he wanted to enter Ajah.

He has now found himself to be a sacred cow of the government, it seems he cannot be brought to book, and I wonder why. I think people can sue state and federal governments, even President Umaru Yar'Adua, if he commits any offence, can be sued. I wonder why the state Attorney General cannot act after we have supplied them with the booklets of terms of settlement.

The fence our tenant raised cost millions of Naira, and it was destroyed. He did the same to other families too, but why should the Odugbese family, who made it possible for him to enter Ajah, be suffering this kind of oppression? The tenant who bought that land has sued us now, demanding millions of Naira.

What else do you want the government to do?

I want to send a message to the state government, that is, the Governor of Lagos, Babatunde Fashola. He understands the law, knows the gravity of human rights abuse, right of movement, right of speech, right of living. Now that my family is being oppressed and we are calling on him with several petitions, let him act fast so that Ajah would remain peaceful. We do not want another bloodshed. He should act fast and bring this man to order.