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Following the demolition of its property, Edwards Private School has called on the Inspector General of Police, asking for the arrest of the Chairman of Egbeda Local Government, Kola Egunjobi and prosecuting him over allegations bordering on malicious demolition of the school’s property.
The school, in a letter dated October 8, 2024, signed by Mrs. Adefunmilayo Ayo-Odugbesan, alleged that the Chairman led a group of heavily armed men and brought bulldozers to No 47 Old Ogba Road beside MKO Abiola Market, Agege, a building that formerly housed Edwards Private School, a private entity that belongs to her.
She added that they commenced demolition of the school building and pulled out the roof with a substantial part of the topmost floor demolished, contending that the chairman has no authority to demolish or takeover the disputed property.
“Sometime in July 1992, being desirous of operating a school that will provide quality education and cater for the educational needs of indigent pupils within the Agege Local Government Area, we purchased and acquired legal title to the property situated at 47, old Ogba Road, Near M.K.O Abiola Market, Agege, I Lagos State for valuable consideration from Mrs Olympia Durotike Ekundayo (nee Sowonolaby virtue of a Deed of Assignment dated 2nd July 1992 and registered as No 63 at page 63 in Volume 1992 of the Register of Deeds kept at the J Lagos State Lands Registry Office, Ikeja, Lagos State.
“Consequent upon being vested with the legal title to the Land, being desirous of constructing a two storey building on same for use as a school, we proceeded to obtain approval of our building plan which was duly granted on the 30th of December 1992 as Approved Building Plan No; AG92/859/22. Further to the above and in the exercise of our proprietary rights over the property, we proceeded to erect a two-storey building on the Land which, as planned, was being used for educational purposes as a school known as Edwards Private School.
“Edwards Private School has been in operation on the land since 1994 and has graduated over 1,200 pupils whose educational records are kept in the Claimants’ building on the land. Sometime on or about the 25 of September 2024, Alhaji Kola Ganiu Egunjobi, as Chairman of Agege Local Government Council, caused signage to be mounted on the fence of the Land with an inscription that reads “This Land belongs to Agege Local Government. The Land is notified as unlawful invasion and acquisition. The occupant and the general public are hereby informed that the property is hereby confiscated. Thank you”.
“Perturbed by the inscription in the aforesaid Signage and the alleged “Confiscation” alluded to, particularly as there is no law prescribing the “confiscation” of land, we immediately briefed our solicitors; Wigwe and Partners to respond to same and by a Letter dated 27 September 2024 addressed to Mr Kola Ganiu Egunjobi as the Chairman of Agege Local Government Area, our legal title to the Land with our tide document attached was brought to the attention of Mr. Kola Ganiu Egunjobi and a request was made for the immediate removal of the signage. By the said letter we also advised that any activity that will infringe on our proprietary rights over the property as constitutionally guaranteed should be refrained from.
“It is imperative to also state that our presence on the Land has always been known to the Agege Local Government and as far back as 2001, Agege Local Government had by a Letter dated 17% July 2001 written to our school to remove a speed breaker installed by the entrance of the school on Ogba Road. It is, therefore, surprising that the same Local Government will refer to our presence on the Land as unlawful invasion and acquisition.
“Strangely, on the 28th day of September 2024, Mr Kola Ganiu Egunjobi led a group of heavily armed men and paramilitary officers into the Land without our consent or any prior notice to us. Mr. Kola Ganiu Egunjobi equally brought bulldozers to the Land and commenced demolition of the school building and pulled out the roof with a substantial part of the topmost floor demolished. In fact, the demolition of the building has continued now for days, and it is currently still ongoing.
“Our request, in view of the foregoing, it is my humble and passionate request that your reliable and uncompromising office designates and instruct some men of the Nigerian Police Force to assist in arresting Mr. Kola Ganiu Egunjobi and prosecute him for malicious demolition of the property and threat to our lives,” the school said.
However, the Local Government Chairman, Egunjobi, has denied the allegations, stating that the demolished property was situated on the council’s land, which he said, had been part of the former Abiola Market.
The council chairman also at a recent press briefing presented before newsmen original copies of requisite title documents obtained by the local government.
According to Egunjobi, the land is evidenced by the council’s survey plan and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) issued by the Lagos state government.
In response to claims by the school that its possess a governor’s consent for the land, Egunjobi suggested that such a claim must be investigated.
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