A dispute over the ownership of a family land in Ibeju Lekki-Epe axis of Lagos has drawn popular real Estate entrepreneur, Saheed Mosadoluwa (popularly known as Ibile) and prominent businessman, Aare Bashir Fakorede into a messy personality war. As the war deepens over time, there had been claims and counterclaims from parties involved -with names of top officials of the Nigeria Police being dragged into the saga.
The battle of wits heated up days back with a purported Gazette Bulletin declaring Mosadoluwa wanted by the AIG Zone 2, Onikan Lagos surfaced in the public. Although he has debunked being invited by anyone, Saheed described the document as a hoax and a hatchet job by Bashiru Fakorede to bring his name to disrepute and target his business.
He particularly mentioned a retired Assistant Inspector General of Police, Durosimi, who he alleged connived with some top officials at Zone 2 to do the bidding of Fakorede in issuing such communications out about him. Ibile was declared wanted for attempted murder, kidnapping and other crimes on the gazette bulletin.
While Aare Fakorede has not featured personally in the ongoing saga yet, Mosadoluwa has reportedly called him out for being the main character behind it all. According to him, they have been over the matter for over two years. In a video he posted on his Instagram page, he leveled various allegations against Fakorede and the police officials whom he said have compromised with him in the case of the disputed land. He also said attempts have been made on his life over the issue, as well as various prejudice campaigns sponsored against him.
Prior to this, the Oni-Orisan family of Lagos Island, Epe Kingdom, had addressed the media where they called on the Nigerian Police to urgently investigate and question Saheed Mosadoluwa over allegations of assaulting family members and unlawfully trespassing on their land. The family head, Chief Mrs. Modupe Olayinka Idowu Oni-Onisan, made the call and urged the police to take swift action against Mr. Saheed Mosadoluwa to prevent further escalation of the conflict.
On the genesis of the case, she said her family did not have any dealings or agreements with Mr. Mosadoluwa, who meanwhile, has claimed that he got the land legally. She added that the disputed parcel of land measured around 15.36 hectares and that the family claims to have been managing it until the former family head, Alhaji Moshood Layi Babatunde Oni-Orisan, who assumed his position in October 2022, allegedly attempted to sell the land to Mr. Mosadoluwa without the consent of the entire family.
Chief Modupe clarified that the land had already been committed to other parties, including Aare Bashir Fakorede, who purchased a portion in 2016 and entered into a joint venture with the family in 2020.
“As far as we are concerned, Ibile did not buy any land from us. He is a trespasser and a land grabber. The family cannot sell land to two people; it amounts to fraud. Ibile should go to the former family head and get a refund,” Chief Modupe stated.
She further averred that the situation escalated when Aare Bashir Fakorede attempted to take possession of the land, only to find other parties occupying it. Fakorede, described as a peace-loving individual, reported the matter to the police, who requested Mr. Mosadoluwa to present his documents but he failed to show up at the police station with any documents since then.
However, after his initial visit, Mr. Mosadoluwa allegedly began erecting fences on the disputed land, further complicating the matter.
“I was physically assaulted by Ibile. I even found his hand chain in my underwear,” Chief Modupe recounted, calling on the police to intervene and hold Mr. Mosadoluwa accountable for his actions.
Supporting the call for action, the family’s secretary, Mr. Jenrade Abdul-Wasiu Okunolade, said complications that arose after Alhaji Moshood became the family head. He claimed that the former head brought land grabbers into the picture, prompting the family to publicly nullify his actions through newspaper publications.
Mr. Okunolade stressed that the family had acted legally to protect their land, obtaining a court order for execution, which was carried out on July 12, 2024, under the supervision of court sheriffs.
“The former family head acted without the knowledge of the whole family. We want the government to do the needful and ensure that justice prevails. The Oni-Orisan family continues to stand by their initial agreement with Aare Bashir Fakorede and is determined to protect their land from unlawful trespassing and fraudulent transactions,” she stated.