Family petitions Navy over land’s forceful acquisition in Ondo community

The family of Agbeni has petitioned the Nigerian Navy, over an alleged illegal acquisition of their land at Agbeni village via Igbokoda in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State by the authorities of Forward Operating Base (FOB).

The family, represented by Apostle Wilson Agbeni, Head of the family, and High Chief Monday Agbeni, Secretary of family, made this known to newsmen on Wednesday in Igbokoda.

Lawyer to the family, Segun Lema, in the petition addressed to the Commanding Officer, FOB, Igbokoda, alleged that some personnel of FOB on Jan. 25 “armed with gun forcibly entering the land removing roofs of buildings without the consent of the family.”

The petition said: “Our client was so amazed because the land is part of subject matter of suit No. HOK/43/2021 between Oba Afolabi Oladimeji Odidiomo(the Olu of Igbokoda) vs Ogungbamila Eric and others in which our clients are the 18th and 19th defendants.

“Wherein, the claim of Oba Afolabi Odidiomo was non-suited having been unable to satisfactorily prove his claim on the land. Copy of the judgment is hereby attached as exhibit.”

According to the petition, it is quite surprising to our client that the Navy personnel did not obtain the consent of the family before storming their land with weapons and tools removing the roofs of building without any regard for the law of the country.

“The action of the men of Nigerian Navy is a very sensitive one that is capable of causing breakdown of law and order should members of our client decide to challenge and resist the personnel.

“However, as law abiding citizens, our clients have decided to forward this petition so as to call your men to order and stop their further act of trespass on their land to avoid a clash between the civilian and the military over land matter,” the petition read.

Chief Monday Agbeni, Secretary of the Agbeni family, said that the land that spans four hectares belonged to the Agbeni family for decades, saying that the Agbeni village was not under Igbokoda town but a village on its own.

Agbeni alleged that the Navy personnel while trespassing on the land destroyed buildings and properties belonging to some members of the family.

“As we speak, we did not really know the interest of the Navy on our forefather’s land as their incursion was a big surprise to us.

“We are law abiding citizens and that was why we approached our lawyer and all efforts to have a meeting with the Commanding Officer by our lawyer were rebuffed.

“We have no other way than to petition the Navy as we don’t want anything that will cause civil unrest over the land that belonged our great grandfathers,” he said.

Efforts to speak with Captain Wasuku Alushi, Commanding Officer, FOB, Igbokoda, proved abortive as naval ratings prevented journalists from entering the Base, while his phone line was switched off.