Ajah Land Dispute: Community Says Orile-Ibamo Title Remains Sub Judice, Cautions Buyers

The leadership of Ajah community in Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State has declared that the ownership dispute over land in Ajah, particularly Orile-Ibamo, remains sub judice, urging members of the public and prospective property buyers to exercise caution pending the determination of ongoing court proceedings.

The community leaders stated this in a rejoinder responding to a publication attributed to the Olumegbon Chieftaincy Family Property and Investments Company Limited, which reportedly asserted ownership of Ajah land, including Orile-Ibamo.

In the statement, the Ajah community leadership challenged the legal basis of the Olumegbon family’s claim, arguing that the family’s land allocation by the Lagos State Government in 1998 and 1999 did not establish ancestral ownership of the disputed areas.

The community alleged that Certificates of Occupancy Nos. 98/98/1996AB and 99/99/1996AB were issued during the pendency of Suit No. LD/1578/94, Chief Amida Adedeji Kareem v. Governor of Lagos State, which challenged government land acquisitions and demolitions in Ajah.

According to the rejoinder, the Olumegbon family sought to join the proceedings on the strength of the certificates, but its application was dismissed by the Lagos State High Court presided over by Justice Ope Agbe.

The signatories further cited the court’s reported findings concerning the issuance and acquisition of the certificates while court orders were subsisting, contending that the circumstances raised serious questions about their legal validity. They consequently disputed the use of the certificates as the basis for asserting ownership over other parcels of land in Ajah.

The Ajah community leaders also referred to a gazetted village excision of 92.677 hectares, which they said was granted to the Ajah community and published in the Lagos State Official Gazette on October 19, 1995, before the subsequent land allocations to the Olumegbon family.

Regarding Orile-Ibamo, the statement maintained that the land belongs to the Ojupon and Ogunsemo Chieftaincy Families, describing it as ancestral stool land.

The signatories cited the historical case of Rabiu Ajayi Ojupon v. Oresanya & Others, Suit No. 65 of 1927, which they said recognised the land claim associated with the then Baale of Ajah.

They also asserted that the Ojupon and Ogunsemo families possess a subsisting Certificate of Occupancy covering the disputed land, which they maintain predates the document relied upon by the Olumegbon family.

The rejoinder further challenged the interpretation and application of a consent judgment arising from Suit No. LD/21/87, involving a settlement between the parties to that case.

According to the community leaders, the settlement concerned a parcel of land identified as Oju Egun and a claim involving N10,000 in damages for alleged graveyard demolition.

They argued that the proceedings were not conducted in a representative capacity for all landowning families in Ajah and questioned the use of the judgment to support broader ownership claims over other areas, including Okun Ajah.

The signatories maintained that Okun Ajah was not a party to the original suit and alleged that the judgment had been interpreted beyond the scope of the original proceedings.

They further accused some government officials of failing to properly scrutinise the application of the judgment in subsequent land transactions. These allegations remain claims made by the signatories.

The community leaders also disclosed that another Certificate of Occupancy, identified as No. 1/12017, is being challenged in a separate court action.

They identified the matter as Suit No. Ref. 1072442025, involving Chief Ismail Adewale Adeleke and Alhaji Kabiru Yekini, acting for themselves and on behalf of the Ojupon and Ogunsemo Chieftaincy Families, against Kolawole Lateef Lawal Olumegbon, Abdulfatai Machado and Olumegbon Chieftaincy Family Property and Investment Company Limited.

The signatories said the existence of the pending proceedings underscored the need for caution in transactions involving Orile-Ibamo and other disputed parcels.

*Buyers Urged To Exercise Caution*

The Ajah community leadership urged prospective buyers, property developers and members of the public to conduct thorough due diligence before entering into transactions involving the disputed lands.

It warned against treating the ownership claims of any party as conclusively established while relevant court proceedings remain unresolved.

The statement also called on the Lagos State Government to ensure that land administration processes respect existing court orders, historical community land rights and the legal interests of all parties.

The rejoinder was signed by Chief Ismaila Adewale Adeleke Adamson, Ojupon IV, Olomodi XII, Baale of Ajah Town; Alhaji Kazeem Azeez Odunlami, Secretary of Ajah Community; Kabiru Yekinni Ogunsemo, General Secretary of the Ogunsemo Family of Ajah; Alhaji Razak Odunlami Ogunsemo, Head of the Ogunsemo Chieftaincy Family; and Pa Adisa Oloriode Ojupon, Head of the Ojupon Chieftaincy Family.