The owner of a building located at the Inalende area of Ibadan, Chief Sanni Gabriel Ola Adepoju, has petitioned the Oyo State Government over alleged occupation of part of the structure and building of shanties around the property.

The building is located at Nw5/573b Kaola Street, Ode-Olo Area, Ibadan, Oyo State.
Chief Adepoju lamented that the illegal occupation constituted security risks to the lives of the tenants living in the main building.

He said he had made efforts to ensure that the illegal occupiers vacate the place, but all to no avail.

When The Guardian visited the house, it was observed that some shops and kiosks were constructed round the house.

Upon enquiry, it was gathered that the occupiers of the shops and shanties claimed that they got permission from the government to build structures and shops round the building.

All efforts to get the reaction of the Ibadan South East Local Government’s property department proved abortive as some officials contacted refused to comment on the development.

Dissatisfied with the development, the petitioner petitioned the state’s ministry of Lands and Housing.

In a petition dated November 17, 2022 and addressed to the Directorate of Town Planning, Ministry of Lands and Housing, Ibadan, Oyo, State through his counsel, Kehinde Olawumi, he appealed to the government to eject the illegal occupiers who built shanties on drainages.

The petition reads in part: “We are solicitors and legal representatives to Chief Adepoju the beneficial owner of the land and building at the above named address, the activities of the illegal occupiers who have built several illegal shanties on the drainage of the house and are blocking the free flow of water and waste in the area and this has caused several health hazards to the owner and the neighbours.”

“It is on record that we served them a one month notice to quit our client’s land at NW5/573B Kajola Street, Inalende/Ode-Olo Area, Ibadan, Oyo State because their continuous occupation of the space has constituted a threat to the legal tenants of our client and the neighbours in that area as the shanties is now hidden space for criminals who make use of it to rob and attack the occupiers of the building and other neighboring houses in the area almost everyday.

“In view of this, we have the instruction of our client to appeal to your good office to eject the illegal occupiers who built shanties on drainages.

“Please find attached the earlier letter written to them and the pictures of the illegal structures for your information and records.”

All efforts to speak with the Commissioner for Lands and Housing. Mr. Segun Olayiwola, also proved abortive as several calls put to him were not answered nor returned.