Owolola Adebola
No fewer than five military personnel are now cooling their heels behind bars at the Headquarters 9 Bridade, Nigerian Army Cantonment, Ikeja Lagos.
Until their arrest, the military personnel were attached to the Navy School of Music, Ota, Ogun State.
Their arrest was sequel to a letter of complaint sent to the Commander, Nigerian Army, 9 Brigade, Ikeja, Lagos, over what has been termed illegal trespass and occupation of private properties at the Ayobo area of Lagos.
According to the said letter of petition by the owner of the private properties, High Chief Moroof Owonla, and a copy of which was obtained by our correspondent, he took possession of the property following a legal battle years back when ownership was contested with him by one Hassan Alli.
He informed the commander that there had been a judgement in his favour in suit No.ID/12351/LMW2022″, et -al.
Owonla in his narratives said that he took possession of the two properties and Warrant of Possession after the court victory.
According to him, the properties in question lie at number 2, Peace Street and 34, Ferguson Osagie Street within Onikanga, Ayobo environment Lagos.
High Chief Morufu Owonla further stressed that since he took possession of the properties, he had never been given a breathing space by the said Hassan Alli and his cohorts, who.he alleged daily subjects him to harassment, intimidation and threat to life.
He said that the matter peaked a few days ago when he returned from abroad only for him to meet a team of five fully armed military personnel laying siege to his properties.
“Since I do not have the powers to challenge the armed persons, especially those in uniform, I then resolved to send a Save our Souls (SoS) to the appropriate authorities to please come to my aid. Iam a peace lover. I detest and eschew violence,” he said.
The traditional ruler, therefore, appealed to the military commander to help him ward off the impunity and the fraudulent manipulation and scheming of the soldiers of occupation “who intend to violently dispossess me of of my hard-earned properties.”
Our correspondent learnt that it was on the strength of the petition that the military high command at the Ikeja Cantonment, Lagos, arrested the five military personnel occupying his properties, who in unison claimed that they were sent by one Lt.Commander O.O. Olaiya.
All efforts to hear out the said Lt. Commander O.O.Olaiya were not successful.
But Hassan Alli, in a chat with our correspondent, said that all the claims by High Chief Owonla should be ignored in its entirety.
He added that the court did not do the desired justice in the matter and that the documents relating to the properties are doubtful.
“Do not mind the traditional ruler. He knows me very well as I know him as well,” he said.
However, the traditional ruler maintained that it would be more dignified to always obey court orders, especially now that Nigeria is under a civilian administration.
“I believe in court judgements.It is the last hope of the common man,” he said .
