The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has intensified his campaign against land grabbing in Ibadan, handing a suspect over to the Oyo State Directorate of the Department of State Services.

This follows a protracted land dispute, with two other suspects still at large.

The development stemmed from a lingering ownership dispute between the Akoto and Ojofeitimi families over a parcel of land on the ICAST axis in the Elebu area of Ibadan.

The matter was detailed in a statement issued by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.

The PUNCH reports that Ladoja had on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, inaugurated a five-member committee on land grabbing and other related heinous acts.

The committee, tasked with addressing the problem of land grabbing from a legal perspective, includes Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Niyi Akintola and Musibau Adetunbi. Others are Yinka Okunade, Rahman AbdulRaheem and Tunji Thomas.

Ladoja gave the committee “an express permission to co-opt anybody from any profession, including town planning, survey, security agencies, the bar and bench, who could assist in giving them sufficient green light to fight the scourge.”

However, it was understood that both families had approached the Olubadan to intervene in the dispute, with representatives of the Akoto family laying claim to a portion of the land, while the Ojofeitimi family insisted that the entire land belonged to them.

Oloko said, “Following the petition, the Olubadan-in-Council invited the parties to a meeting last month, directing them to submit survey plans and other documents to establish ownership.

“The monarch also ordered that there should be no threat, encroachment or further development on the disputed land pending the outcome of investigations.

“The matter was, however, brought to a head on Tuesday when the feuding families were summoned to the Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan, for the presentation of the investigation report.

“At the meeting, the council declared that the land inhabited by the Ojofeitimi family rightfully belonged to them, dismissing the claim by the Akoto family.”

Presenting the report, the state Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Ajibade Bolanle, said findings from an independent survey and records obtained from the state Ministry of Lands confirmed the Ojofeitimi family’s ownership.

He noted that while the survey plan presented by the Ojofeitimi family had an official red copy, the document submitted by the Akoto family lacked statutory validation.

“Tension, however, heightened when two of the three Akoto family representatives failed to appear for the report presentation, fuelling suspicion among council members.

“The situation became more serious following allegations that one Kunle Ojofeitimi was assaulted during the period of investigation despite warnings from the Olubadan that all parties should maintain peace. He was reportedly treated for injuries at the Adeoyo State Hospital, while the incident was also reported to the police.

“Subsequently, one suspect was apprehended and handed over to the DSS, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the two others said to be at large,” Olubadan’s media aide explained.

Dignitaries present at the meeting included the Osi Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola Daisi; Asipa Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Asipa Balogun, Oba Abiodun Azeez Agagagugu; Ekerin Balogun, Oba Mobolaji Akeem Adewoyin; Aare Mayegun of Ibadanland, Chief Bayo Oyero; and the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Niyi Ajewole, among others.

The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has intensified his campaign against land grabbing in Ibadan, handing a suspect over to the Oyo State Directorate of the Department of State Services.

This follows a protracted land dispute, with two other suspects still at large.

The development stemmed from a lingering ownership dispute between the Akoto and Ojofeitimi families over a parcel of land on the ICAST axis in the Elebu area of Ibadan.

The matter was detailed in a statement issued by his media aide, Adeola Oloko, in Ibadan, the state capital, on Wednesday.

The PUNCH reports that Ladoja had on Tuesday, 14 October 2025, inaugurated a five-member committee on land grabbing and other related heinous acts.

The committee, tasked with addressing the problem of land grabbing from a legal perspective, includes Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Niyi Akintola and Musibau Adetunbi. Others are Yinka Okunade, Rahman AbdulRaheem and Tunji Thomas.

Ladoja gave the committee “an express permission to co-opt anybody from any profession, including town planning, survey, security agencies, the bar and bench, who could assist in giving them sufficient green light to fight the scourge.”

However, it was understood that both families had approached the Olubadan to intervene in the dispute, with representatives of the Akoto family laying claim to a portion of the land, while the Ojofeitimi family insisted that the entire land belonged to them.

Oloko said, “Following the petition, the Olubadan-in-Council invited the parties to a meeting last month, directing them to submit survey plans and other documents to establish ownership.

“The monarch also ordered that there should be no threat, encroachment or further development on the disputed land pending the outcome of investigations.

“The matter was, however, brought to a head on Tuesday when the feuding families were summoned to the Olubadan Palace, Oke-Aremo, Ibadan, for the presentation of the investigation report.

“At the meeting, the council declared that the land inhabited by the Ojofeitimi family rightfully belonged to them, dismissing the claim by the Akoto family.”

Presenting the report, the state Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers, Ajibade Bolanle, said findings from an independent survey and records obtained from the state Ministry of Lands confirmed the Ojofeitimi family’s ownership.

He noted that while the survey plan presented by the Ojofeitimi family had an official red copy, the document submitted by the Akoto family lacked statutory validation.

“Tension, however, heightened when two of the three Akoto family representatives failed to appear for the report presentation, fuelling suspicion among council members.

“The situation became more serious following allegations that one Kunle Ojofeitimi was assaulted during the period of investigation despite warnings from the Olubadan that all parties should maintain peace. He was reportedly treated for injuries at the Adeoyo State Hospital, while the incident was also reported to the police.

“Subsequently, one suspect was apprehended and handed over to the DSS, while efforts are ongoing to arrest the two others said to be at large,” Olubadan’s media aide explained.

Dignitaries present at the meeting included the Osi Olubadan, Oba Abiodun Kola Daisi; Asipa Olubadan, Oba Hamidu Ajibade; Asipa Balogun, Oba Abiodun Azeez Agagagugu; Ekerin Balogun, Oba Mobolaji Akeem Adewoyin; Aare Mayegun of Ibadanland, Chief Bayo Oyero; and the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Niyi Ajewole, among others.