An alleged notorious land grabber in Lagos, Mutairu Owoeye, has been dragged to court by landlords and residents of Ibeju-Lekki area of the state.
The community also wants Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to curtail the activities of Owoeye, who has allegedly boasted to be above the law in Lagos State.
In a statement made available to the media on Thursday, the concerned persons, who believe in the rule of law, has instituted a suit against Owoeye and some firms linked with him at the High Court of Lagos State, Epe Judicial Division.
Joined in the suit number EPD/6122LMW/18 are Asset & Resource Management Company Limited (ARM), Toll Systems Company Limited; Chief Mutairu Owoeye & Company Ltd; Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye and Mr Ganiyu Owoeye (aka Garba).
The community seeks from the court a declaration that the unlawful invasion of their properties with dangerous firearms, offensive weapons, malicious destruction/ demolition of the their houses, churches, factories and industries without lawful and valid court orders/ judgment by the 1st to 4th defendants through the 5th to 8th defendants, with the purpose of chasing the them out of their respective parcels of land and annexed and fenced the annexed land, is unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.
“A declaration that the defendants’ use of force, violence, self-help, armed hoodlums to secure entry into the claimants’ landed properties, and took over the claimants’ landed property is unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.
“A declaration that the continued occupation of the claimants’ landed properties by the defendants’ of which the defendants secured entry and fenced it, through use of force, offensive weapons and firearms, violence, self-help, armed hoodlums and took over the claimants’ landed property is unconstitutional, illegal and unlawful.
“An order of the honourable court directing the defendants to immediately vacate the claimants parcels of land as described in their respective survey plans and restore all the properties the defendants destroyed.
“N100,000,000.00 damages in favour of the claimants and against the Defendants, jointly and severally for the malicious destruction/ demolition of the claimant’s houses, churches, factories and industries causing the Claimants to suffer untold hardship, loss of their business, homes and psychological trauma.”
