The Oyetunde family of Ibadanland has raised an alarm over the alleged use of policemen from Zone 11, Osogbo, to harass and victimize family members over a land dispute, which is already pending before a court of competent jurisdiction.
The family claimed that four of their members, namely; Ridwan Balogun Oyetunde, Alfa Kamorudeen Oyetunde, Ahmed Ajiwe, and Jelili Osunkayode, have been arrested and are currently being detained by the police from Zone 11.
The entire Oyetunde family on Sunday called on the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Mr. Kayode Egbetokun, the Nigeria Police Service Commission (PSC), the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Senator Rashidi Ladoja, Arusa 1, and the entire Olubadan-in-Council to come to the rescue of the family.
They accused Alimi Yusuf Lafiku, Saheed Olawoyin Omo Egun, Tunde Lawal, Sule Adigun, Jamiu Raimi, and Mogaji Moshood Tijani Lafiku of harassing family members, contrary to the instruction given by Oba Ladoja to parties involved in the land dispute.
Baale Jelili Oyetunde, who spoke on behalf of the family, explained that Oba Ladoja had intervened in the land dispute involving the Oyetunde family and the other party, setting up a committee headed by High Chief Abiodun Kola-Daisi to look into the matter.
He said, “His Imperial Majesty, Oba Ladoja, instructed that no party should go to the disputed land located at Ayegun Olomi Olojuoro village in Oluyole Local Government Area, and that no party should use police to harass the other pending the time the committee completes the assignment.
The Oyetunde family lamented that despite the Olubadan’s instruction, these people, backed by an Ibadan High Chief, were still going to the disputed land to carry out illegal activities, in their bid to forcefully take over the land.
He said the Oyetunde family, as a prominent Ibadan family that has produced two past Olubadans of Ibadanland – Olubadan Petuoshin Oyetunde 1 (1946) and Olubadan Shittu Akintola Oyetunde 11 (1971-1976), decided to abide by Oba Ladoja’s instruction as a mark of respect for the Olubadan throne.
The Oyetunde family stressed that instead of the other party also abiding by the Olubadan’s instruction, they resorted to using a team of policemen from Osogbo, comprising one SUPOL Olabiyi, SUPOL Azeez, and Inspector Adisa, to harass their members.
He said while two members of the Oyetunde family – Ajiwe and Osunkayode – were arrested inside the premises of the Oyo State Magistrate’s Court in Iyaganku, Ibadan, on December 18, the other two were arrested at Oyetunji’s palace at Eleta, Ibadan.
He further lamented that “our lawyer, who visited them in Osogbo, reported that our four family members were beaten, molested, and maltreated by the police, who accused them of impersonation and malicious damage”.
The Oyetunde family noted that it is unfortunate that these police officers are getting themselves involved in the land dispute despite being fully aware of the pendency of the matter before a court of competent jurisdiction.
