Ijora-Badia Traders Cry As Landowner Stand For Demolition

New owner of di one-acre land wey people dey fight for, for Gasikiya College Road, Ijora-Badia, Lagos, Omopariola Adeleye, don explain why dem demolish 35 shanty shops wey dey di land. Adeleye talk say Taiwo Alonge-Lawrence, wey be family member of di late Chief Olatunde Lawrence, dey lie when e talk say demolition no follow law, because correct notices don reach all di tenants As e show im purchase documents before journalists, Adeleye talk say e buy di land legally, give di shop owners enough notice make dem comot, and e never ask or collect any money from dem since e become owner for 2022. Alonge-Lawrence don raise alarm say dem dey do land grab after demolition wey happen on September 4, 2025, and e talk say land grabbers and some Lagos State government people join body for di matter. E accuse dem say dem carry law for dia hand by approving demolition, even though im lawyer don submit papers to show say na im own di land. But Adeleye talk say those claims no true, and e stress say di deal valid and all documents dey complete. I buy di property through agent, Lara, wey introduce me to family member, Kehinde Da-Costa Lawrence. Na im show me all di correct papers like deed of sale, letter of administration, and other papers wey confirm say dem sell di land give me. After we sign agreement, I start work for di place,” na so e talk. E talk say wahala start when Alonge-Lawrence come out say dem never sell di land even though dem don pay money.  “I shock, I call di family wey sell di land give me. Dem carry me go dia lawyer, George Itunin of Park View, wey still dey represent di family first son, Dr Dapo wey dey abroad, and some sisters. Di matter clear,” na so e talk. Adeleye still talk say before demolition, dem properly give occupants quit notice make dem comot from di shops so construction work fit start.  “Most of dem no listen to di notice after dem get another message wey tell dem make dem no comot. But di notices, copies of dem wey dem give for March and April 2025, clear well well,” na so e talk.

To back am up, Baale of Oridilu, Gasikiya, Chief Lateef Olatunji talk say: “As traditional head, Adeleye tell me say e buy plenty acres of land for Gasikiya Estate, and Baba Gasikiya son, Kehinde, confirm say e sell im share give am. Wahala start when e try control di shops wey dem build for di fence of di land wey e buy, and one of Baba Gasikiya sons no gree. Also, daughter of one former administrator of di estate, Aduke Olapade, talk say: “Make everything clear, my papa and two oda people be administrators for Gasikiya estate. For one time, because of im old age, my papa give im work to di owner eldest son, Kehinde, wey dey abroad. Kehinde sell part of di estate, including di shops wey im late papa give am as inheritance. Di lawyers tell tenants make dem no dey pay rent for estate account again, but make dem dey pay di new owner. Na after demolition tenants begin understand say di land belong to Mr Adeleye, wey legally buy am from my cousin, Kehinde Lawrence. Di deal complete with lawyers and papers sign. Di shops dey inside di part of land wey dem sell to Adeleye. So, dis matter no be about force or wahala for law; na about proper ownership with documents. Di family sabi am well. Meanwhile, some traders wey dem comot still dey waka near di demolished place dey sell dia goods for open as dem dey find new shops. As she dey lament, caterer Basirat Saidu talk say: “Dem talk say dem don sell di property, but we no ever meet di buyer face to face. I don pay N60,000 for one year, no be to estate account or new owner, but to Taiwo. After that, dem demolish our shops. Now, I dey bake for open, dey borrow space from another trader when e dey rain. I no fit sell drinks or zobo again because I no get place to keep my freezer. My income don fall well well. Another trader, Olumide Adeleke, wey fit get another shop near for him barbing salon, talk say: “When I hear say dem don sell di property, I quickly arrange this shop. E no big reach how I want, but e still dey okay. Plenty oda people no lucky like me; dem still dey suffer. But one resident wey dem only know as Rilwan talk say Adeleye try to help traders to reduce their losses.  “E ask dem for their account numbers to pay compensation, but dem no gree. E still call dem through im lawyer for meeting, but dem no come. Wetin else e suppose do?”