Residents of Igbokuta, a small community in Ikorodu, are pleading with the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to intervene in what they describe as a battle for the soul of their community.
They also urged the traditional ruler of Imota, Oba Ajibade Agoro, to desist from imposing a man accused of murder as a king over their community.
The accused, whom they claim Oba Agoro elected, is Nosiru Jimoh Olayiwola, alias Layi, whom they allege shot and killed one Azeez Shonaiya in broad daylight in the presence of his father and some community members on July 2, 2008.
According to some community members who spoke to The Guardian, they stated that the case is still in court, wondering why the king decided to select such a person for that position despite the controversies surrounding him.
However, when contacted, Oba Ajibade Agoro disputed the allegations, saying, “How many times have they gone to court and lost? Tell them to produce the case suit number and the court where the case is being heard. They have gone to court, and he has defeated them four times, yet they persist with this story. They have no case,” he said.
Also, speaking with The Guardian via telephone, Layi stressed that Igbokuta is one of the 16 villages under Agbowa, and his ancestors migrated from Agbowa. He noted that these people lived with them as customary tenants and didn’t pay rent.
“We inherited rent receipts from 1957, 1958, and these people now alleging all sorts are children of those customary tenants.
“A customary tenant cannot claim lordship of his landlord’s land. If I am to be crowned king, they don’t have a choice. We have two ruling houses, and both houses are my family. These people raising allegations are from Ibadan; they came to Igbokuta then to work as tenants,” he said.
He added that the ruler of Imota has administrative and traditional rights over the area and can do what he likes.
On the murder allegation, he stated that the deceased, Azeez, was his cousin on his father’s side, asking, “Is it possible I murder my own cousin?”
Narrating the events of that day, Akinwunmi Aliu Babangida, brother of the late Azeez, said Layi accused Azeez of being part of a plot to have him arrested and threatened to deal with him once he was released.
“Shockingly, he was released that same evening. The next day, my father was outside our house talking with Azeez, Ganiu, and Muse. Suddenly, Layi approached with a shotgun and shot at them, killing Azeez, blinding Ganiu, while others sustained varying injuries.”
He said the police were called, and they arrested Layi, but he was bailed shortly after despite their efforts to keep him behind bars.
An elder in the community, Benson Ayodele Ige, alias Iroko, corroborated this but added that what shocked him was that despite all evidence presented, such as the murder weapon, eyewitness accounts, the doctor’s report, and a thorough police investigation, the accused has not been convicted in court 18 years after.
He said that, due to various excuses and reasons, the court keeps adjourning the case, and this has resulted in two different judges handling it. First, Justice Onigbanjo presided over it for 12 years, and now, Justice Oshodi.
According to him, the most painful part is that Layi seems so confident, telling them that when they are tired, they would stop wasting their time in court.
“This is a case of 18 years. How long does it take to deliver judgment on a case with such glaring evidence? We call on Governor Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State Ministry of Justice to see to it that judgment is delivered in this case,” he said.
He added that about five years ago, when they heard Layi was about to be installed as Baale by Oba Agoro, they opposed it by obtaining a court order through their lawyer.
“To our dismay, we started hearing again last year that this same Oba wants to crown him king. How can you be contemplating making someone with such a dark cloud around him king? This is a man accused of killing someone, with a number of witnesses still living; this is a disgrace,” he said.
Corroborating Ige, Akinrele Abiola Michael, popularly known as O-Yes, the community’s secretary, said he personally witnessed the shooting as it happened in broad daylight.
“After he was accused of murder, the traditional ruler who stood as guarantor for him when he was released on bail is the same person forcing the accused on us. Layi is a notorious land grabber and accused murderer and should not be made king,” he said.
