Ajimobi Drags Makinde to Court Over Revocation of Oyo Government Lands He Allocated to Himself While In Oyo

A former Governor of Oyo state, Abiola Ajimobi dragged his successor in office, Engr. Seyi Makinde before the State’s High Court over the revocation of his landed properties located at the Agodi Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.

Ajimobi in four suits marked I/183/2020, I/184/2020, I/185/2020 and I/186/2020 is claiming the sum of N15million from the defendants being cost of the action, including the expenses incurred to file each of the cases, and his attorney’s professional fees.

Also sued alongside the governor are the State Attorney-General, the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Urban Development and the Ministry of Lands, Housing and Urban Development.

Makinde had in a revocation order dated 10th February, 2020 said the plots lands in question were revoked for overriding public interests and for the use of the state government.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Seyi Makinde, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, said that the affected parcels of lands were equally revoked for alteration of Land Use, noting that “the affected parcels of lands include: Quarter 361 with adjoining Plots B and C, totalling 23,627sqm (about 48 plots); Quarters 371 and 372, totalling 9,875.002sqm; Plot 138 Magazine Road, Jericho, Ibadan with a total area of 2,990.638sqm; Block 1, Plot 1 and 2 Mammy Market, Agodi GRA, Ibadan; Block 2 Plot1, Agodi GRA; Block 2 Plot 2 and Block 3 Plot 3, also in Agodi GRA, Ibadan.”

It went on: “Quarter 361, which originally sits on 1,477 Hectares of land used to house the Governor’s Guest House since the days of Western Region.

“The current owner prior to the revocation had, however, added the Government’s Protocol Quarters which sits on 2,279 sqm and another government property which sits on 6,565 sqm. That brings the current size of the land in the custody of the owner of Quarter 361 to a total of 23,627sqm.

“The Quarter was initially acquired by a former Governor of the State and revoked by his successor, who thereafter allocated the same to a top Ibadan businessman. The businessman had in turn, registered a “Deed of Gift” with the State’s Land Registry to indicate that he had given out the land to another former Governor of the state.”