The Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, Mr Ganiyu Egunjobi, has called on the Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Mr Ishola Olanrewaju, and the State’s Land Bureau to investigate the process through which a former Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Edwards Ayo-Odugbesan, and his wife obtained Governor’s Consent on local government property.

The couple claimed to possess a Deed of Assignment and Governor’s Consent dated 1995 as their title documents to the demolished property.

Debunking this claim, Egunjobi reiterated the local government’s claim to the land in dispute, adding that it possessed all requisite title documents, including the survey plan and the Certificate of Occupancy issued by the Lagos State government in 1992.

He berated the former Ogun State Speaker for sponsoring media reports alleging the council authority of unlawfully confiscating and demolishing his property.

Setting the records straight at a media briefing held at the council secretariat on Thursday, the council chairman presented before newsmen original copies of requisite title documents obtained by the local government.

He stated further, “The fact of the matter is that the said property is within the land of the council at the former MKO Abiola Model Market, which the council equally demolished. Invariably, the portion of the property in question occupied belongs to the council.

“This is evidenced by our survey plan and the Certificate of Occupancy issued to us by the Lagos State government. The issuance predated the documents the couple claimed to possess on the property.

“It’s curious that Mr. and Mrs. Ayo-Odugbesan claim to possess a governor’s consent for that same land. But if their claim is true, it can only mean one thing: that the process they used to obtain it is fraudulent. I hereby call on the Lagos State Commissioner of Police to investigate this claim and ensure justice is served.

“This becomes necessary considering that under transparent circumstances, devoid of deception, the couple would not have been granted the governor’s consent for the land since the same Lagos state government long awarded the same to the council on land that covers the portion in dispute based on our survey plan.

“Since we have nothing to hide, we are making our own documents, which are the survey plan and C of O and their own, available to the public through the media today for verification at Lagos State Lands Bureau. We are convinced beyond any reasonable doubt that their so-called governor’s consent was obtained with a fraudulent survey plan.”

Speaking on the alleged demolition of a school, he stated, “We acted within the law by obtaining the approval of Lagos State Physical Planning Permit Authority, LASPPPA, to demolish all structures on our land, including the section where Abiola Market occupied.

“We have our position on the debate about the existence or non-existence of Edwards Private School, but it does not matter. Let’s assume there’s a private school there. Does that remove or diminish the fact that the land is owned by the government? Moreover, we are talking of a for-profit organisation, not a charity organisation. In good conscience, I would not look the other way and allow individuals or organisations to rob Agege of its properties, no matter the status of the usurper. My overriding concern is that I swore an oath to serve the interest of the council, and this I will continue to abide by till my last seconds in office.”