[Video] Ariyori Family, TJ Properties Allege and  grabbing by Ebuka, others

By Rasaq Adebayo

The Lagos State Government has been urged to intervene to forestall an imminent crisis that may ensure between the Ariyori family of Lagos and TJ Properties, and one Mr. Ebuka Umeburue and his colleagues over some acres of land located at Peter Memercy, Satellite Town, Festac area of Lagos.

The Ariyori family who claimed to be the right owner of the parcels of land has accused Mr. Ebuka and two others of encroaching on the land unlawfully.

The leader of the family, Engr. Abiodun Ariyori, who spoke to our correspondent explained that a biscuit-producing company, Nasco, had initially claimed the land claiming to have acquired the land about 750 acres from the federal government but the possession of the land had long ago been granted to his family by court.

“All of a sudden, we realised that the larger part of the land had been acquired by some Igbo people. We later managed to acquire 100 acres and left the rest only for the Igbos to still encroach on our portion and claim the owners.

“This is the land that had been granted to our family long ago by the court.

“We are appealing to the government especially the Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu to intervene because we don’t want a crisis to ensue again. The Igbos have been threatening us with police on our own father’s land; we can no longer tolerate Igbos domination in our land. That is why we are appealing to the government to take urgent action.”

Also speaking, the CEO of TJ Properties, Mr. Olatunji Alabi, who handles the property for the Ariyori family, said Mr. Ebuka Umeburue and his two other Igbo colleagues who took possession of the land have been destroying the structure already built by those who bought the land from him.

“They are three in number, one Mr. Ebuka, Tade, and the other one. They formed a synergy to fight the Yoruba landowners, and have been tormenting us and our clients on our land. They went to the AIG Zone 2, Ali Muhammed who is now supporting them against us, dragging us here and there and threatening us with police officers and soldiers. The AIG listened to them, he didn’t listen to us and is supporting them.

“We had been selling our land before they connived with Nasco company to encroach our land. It was during the military era, the military federal government gave the land to Nasco company, but we had long reclaimed the ownership of our and started selling to people only for the Igbos to resurface and claiming that they had bought the land from Nasco.

“We are appealing to the government to come in. We are doing this because we are peaceful and law-abiding citizens. Already, they have built on part of the land, they are trying to highjack the other from us but we won’t accept that. We can’t accept some strangers dominating us and hijacking our properties.”

Baba Oodua of Lagos State under Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), Chief Wahab Isiaka who said he and his colleagues bought two acres of the land from Ariyori, lamented that some strangers have been trying to take over the land from them.

He explained that his fence was destroyed by the Igbo why threatening his workers on the land.

“I know Ariyori is the rightful owner of the land. I and some of my colleagues bought two acres from the family long ago, we got all the documents and receipts. We have been on the land for years without anybody challenging us. But recently, Al of a sudden, one Igbo man called Tade came to claim that he has three acres there, which he claimed he bought from Nasco. He was asked to produce the evidence but he couldn’t and Nasco did not come to validate his claim.

“But after so many pleading, Ariyori gave him one acre. However, he came back later that he must collect the remaining two acres. Then Engineer Ariyori refused, saying he didn’t sell the land for him initially, he only helped him with the one acre he gave to him and since then, he(Mr. Tade) and his colleagues have been coming with thugs, police, and soldiers to torment us on our land.”

Meanwhile, one of those alleged to have been encroaching on the land, Mr. Ebuka Umeburue, told our correspondent that they bought the land from Nasco Plc between 2020 and 2022, disclosing that he has already used three plots on his own portion while the remaining three plots have become bone of contention.

“We bought the land from Nasco Plc. The land was gazetted in the name of Nasco Plz long ago. About five years ago, one Engr. Abiodun Ariyori came to claim ownership of the land. But we asked him to go to court, if he wins, we will buy the land back from him and if Nasco wins, it will be to our advantage. We don’t want to fight.”