The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, on Tuesday inaugurated a five-member anti-land grabbing committee made up of prominent legal practitioners — Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN), Barrister Musibau Adetunbi (SAN), Yinka Okunade, Rahman Abiodun AbdulRaheem, and Tunji Thomas — to tackle the menace of land grabbing in Ibadan from a legal perspective.
Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the Olubadan Palace, Oke Aremo, Ibadan, Oba Ladoja warned that hard times await land grabbers who have been tarnishing the image of Ibadan through their criminal activities. He charged the committee to collaborate with experts from various professions, including town planning, surveying, security agencies, and the judiciary, to effectively address the problem.
Although Barrister Adetunbi was absent at the inauguration, the monarch expressed confidence in the committee’s capacity to deliver, giving them twenty-one days to submit their recommendations.
Oba Ladoja emphasized that the new legal advisory committee was not replacing the existing committee on land matters headed by Mogaji Asimiyu Ariori, but rather established to strengthen its work. He added that both the Oyo State Government and the Olubadan-in-Council shared a common goal of eliminating land grabbing across Ibadanland.
The Balogun of Ibadanland, Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, also lent his voice to the call for decisive action, suggesting the creation of anti-land grabbing tribunals across the eleven local government areas of Ibadanland to curb the menace.
Responding on behalf of the committee, Chief Niyi Akintola (SAN) expressed appreciation to the Olubadan and the Olubadan-in-Council for the opportunity to serve. He pledged the committee’s readiness to work closely with the Oyo State Government and Ibadan residents, noting that the state government equally detests land grabbing and would benefit from the committee’s advisory role.
The meeting, presided over by Oba Ladoja, was attended by members of the Olubadan-in-Council including Oba Tajudeen Ajibola, Oba Kola Adegbola, Oba Eddy Oyewole, Oba Olubunmi Isioye-Dada, Oba Abiodun Kola-Daisi, Oba Hamidu Ajibade, Oba Akeem Adewoyin, and Oba Adebayo Akande. Also present were Chief Tajudeen Aremu, the Bobajiro of Ibadanland and former Oyo State Head of Service, as well as Ajiroba of Ibadanland, Professor Soji Adejumo.
