The Nigerian Human Rights Community (NHRC) has called on the Oba of Badagry to call his ‘son’ to order over illegal occupation of a property in his kingdom.
This, the body said, has become necessary to avoid subjecting his royal stool to ridicule and decimating the cultural dignity of his kingdom.
In a petition addressed to the Akran of Badagry, De Wheno Aholu Menu-Toyi and signed by NHRC Director of Publicity, Kunle Ajayi, the human rights coalition alleged that a middle-aged man, Solomon Ayodele Akran, who claimed to be the son of the Oba of Badagry engaged in illegal occupation and threat to life.
The so-called prince of Badagry, according to the rights group, was alleged to have forced his way into a private property belonging to retired naval officer, who died recently in a foreign land.
The owner of the property, retired Navy Commander J. R. T. Williams, due to old age, had delegated the daughter to manage the property located on No 3, Godo Estate, Iberekodo to carry out repairs and remodelling.
The ‘son’ of the Oba, Solomon Akran, colluded with a carpenter who had the key to the property to illegally move into the house in April this year without the consent of the land lord or the lawyer in charge of the property.
Ayodele Akran, the petition stated, lured the carpenter, Lanre Lumpkin, who was given the keys to the property to enable him carry out repairs and moved into the apartment, claiming he had settled the carpenter.
When the daughter of late Commander Williams paid an unannounced visit to the property in July this year, NHRC stated, she discovered that the house has been illegally occupied by Ayodele Akran.
According to the coalition, Ayodele Akran, who admitted that he was occupying the property illegally when confronted, then begged to be given up to the end of August to move out of the property.
“As at the time of writing this petition” the group stated, “he has occupied the property for close to nine months… He later changed his mind and started threatening emissaries sent to him with voodoo and claims of being the leader of the Ogboni Confraternity in Lagos State.”
“He further claimed that if he were to leave at all, it would be at his own time and there’s nothing anyone can do about it, adding that as a prince of Badagry, he has the power to unleash terror and do whatever he likes with no consequences”, NHRC added.
Illegal occupation of property, the coalition contended, contravened the tenancy law of Lagos State and the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, adding that the use of threat against individuals is also a criminal offence in the country.
NHRC asked the Oba to urgently intervene and prevent the breakdown of law and order in his kingdom.
