A Lagos-based businessman Kamorudeen Lamina has accused a grade 1 monarch in the state, Obateru of Egbim, Oba Adeoriyomi Oyebo, of attempting to kill him.
Lamina made this accusation at a press briefing where he alleged that the monarch was after his life over parcels of land he bought at Ikorodu area of the state.
He said, “The land he is claiming that I encroached upon has been duly awarded to me by a Federal High Court sitting in Lagos and as such I do not have any issue as regards that land with any body or the Obateru as an individual. The Obateru said I was behind his arrest by the police after some hoodlums attacked policemen at the Mowola community.
“I never wrote any petition against the Kabiyesi as they are insinuating, the only petition I instructed my lawyer, Mr. Femi Falana to write was to the IGP and it was as regards the conduct of the men of the Mobile Police Unit 22 led by one Ayeni, who invaded my office and home turning everything upside down in the process and making away with my properties worth millions of naira.
“It is also false that I gave a car gift to policemen at Area N Command at Ijede as a bribe to prevent them from arresting me.”
Lamina added that he had sent an appeal to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, and security agencies over the alleged threat to his life.
“I am appealing to them to come to my aid as my life and that of my family are no longer safe. We have resorted to sleeping outside our home for fear of being killed.”
When contacted, Oba Oyebo, the Obateru of Egbim denied the allegation, saying that Mr. Lamina was a threat to the community.
He said, “I fell out with him (Lamina) because of his activities of land-grabbing, maiming and the destruction of lives and properties in the community. I was the one who drew the attention of the authorities to Lamina’s activities for which he was arrested and taken into custody for several months.
“He has used the police and other unscrupulous ways to eliminate me and cause mayhem in the communities but he has not succeeded and he has now resorted to blackmail and name-calling.”