86-Year-Old Lagos Family Head Cries Out Over Unlawful Plan Of SWAT Boss, DCP Ayilara To Maliciously Charge Him To Court Over Family Land

…Speaks on viral controversy over the sale of his  family landed property to Harmony Gardens

Alhaji Abdul-Moshood Babatunde, the head of the Oni-Orisan family in Lagos Island, has cried out to the public and government over plans by DCP Ayilara, in charge of SWAT, who allegedly directed ASP Olalekan to maliciously charge him to court over his father’s land, as he cleared the air on the controversy trailing the sale of the family’s landed property to Harmony Gardens, a top real estate firm owned by socialite, Saheed Mosadoluwa.

Speaking recently with Journalists in Lagos, Alhaji Babatunde said he has been moving in and out of the police station owing to the petition written by some aggrieved Oni Orisan members, and working hands in hands with Bashiru Fakorede and Sodiq Oloto as agents and allegedly storming Harmony Gardens’ properties thereby destroying items worth ‘billions of naira’.

During the press briefing, Pa Mashood Oni-Orisan also cleared the air on the controversy trailing the sale of a portion of the family’s Oju Ota Gazetted property in Oko Orisan.

According to him, he joined Obadimeji Oshodi in selling the land to Harmony Gardens, a top real estate firm owned by a socialite, Saheed Mosadoluwa.

Pa Mashood Oni Orisan said the deal is ‘clean, valid, and cannot be reversed, and he will not take money from Bashiru to deny what he had sold to Harmony Gardens.

86-Year-Old Lagos Family Head Cries Out Over Unlawful Plan Of SWAT Boss, DCP Ayilara To Maliciously Charge Him To Court Over Family Land

Speaking further, Alhaji Moshood particularly mentioned a half-sister of his, one Mrs Modupe Damasio, of being the mastermind of the petition that landed him in trouble with the police from Alagbon and Adeniji Adele where he was reportedly tormented with no regard to his old age and failing health.

He said: “I was surprised that at my age and my level of mobility, police from Alagbon and Adeniji-Adele were tossing me around”.

He explained his role in the deal; saying: “It’s true I sold a part of the landed properties to Harmony Gardens on behalf of my family in Oju-Ota, Oko-Orisan Village, Epe, Lagos, with the knowledge and consent of my siblings.

My family has about 5400 acres of land in Epe, which I think is more than enough for the 77 grandchildren to share.

I have collected N35m advance hoping to be paid the balance of N20m which I have promised to share with other family members when Harmony Gardens pays. But my sister would not accept this. Hence the resort to police case.”

Alhaji Moshood disclosed that, though the Lagos State government has acquired 2000 acres from the land for the airport project, the family still has 3400 acres left, which he insists is enough for everyone to share.

“Though Lagos state has acquired 2000 acres for the airport project. We still have 3400 acres left. The landed property we have left is enough for everyone. I don’t know why my sister will collude with Bashiru Fakorede to destroy Harmony Gardens property” He said.

On the way forward, Alhaji Babatunde said his sister should allow peace to reign and desist from attacking the property of Harmony Gardens in connivance with Fakorede.

” I want to urge my family members who all agreed that I should be the Head ( Olori-ebi) of the family to allow peace to reign so that we can arrange for the buyer for the vast expanse of land so that everyone will be taken care of,” he added.

On the invasion of Harmony Gardens’ properties, Alhaji Moshood says the Oni-Orisan family has petitioned the Lagos State commissioner of police to investigate and prevent further destruction.

He alleged also that the AIG of Zone 2, Olaoye Durosinmi, in the heat of the crisis, deployed armed officers on July 22, 2024, to provide security for the aggrieved family members on July 22, 2024, promising to provide video recordings and statements from suspects, showing the involvement of the culprits allegedly supported by AIG Durosinmi.

Alhaji Moshood therefore called on the Inspector General of Police to intervene and prevent “unlawful and malicious arraignment and prosecution.”

A human rights advocacy group also vowed to intervene and ensure that justice is achieved.