- The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, intensified efforts against land grabbing by handing a suspect to the DSS over a disputed Elebu property
- After reviewing survey documents and official records, the council ruled in favour of the Ojofeitimi family
- Authorities said investigations continued as two additional suspects remained at large
The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, has intensified efforts to curb land grabbing in the ancient city, handing over a suspect to the Oyo State Directorate of the Department of State Services (DSS) following a protracted land dispute in the Elebu area of Ibadan.
The development stems from a lingering ownership crisis between the Akoto and Ojofeitimi families over a parcel of land situated along the ICAST axis. Two additional suspects are reportedly at large.
Details of the intervention were contained in a statement issued on Wednesday in Ibadan by the monarch’s media aide, Adeola Oloko.
The move comes months after Oba Ladoja inaugurated a five-member committee on 14 October 2025 to address land grabbing and other related offences from a legal standpoint. The committee comprises Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Chief Niyi Akintola and Chief Musibau Adetunbi, alongside Yinka Okunade, Rahman AbdulRaheem and Tunji Thomas.
The monarch granted the committee express authority to co-opt professionals from relevant fields, including town planning, surveying, security agencies and the legal profession, to strengthen its mandate in tackling the scourge.
According to the statement, both families had earlier sought the Olubadan’s intervention in the dispute. While representatives of the Akoto family laid claim to a portion of the land, the Ojofeitimi family maintained that the entire expanse belonged to them.
Following a formal petition, the Olubadan-in-Council invited the parties to a meeting last month and directed them to submit survey plans and supporting documentation to establish ownership. The monarch also ordered that there be no threats, encroachment or further development on the disputed land pending the outcome of investigations.
The matter reached a climax on Tuesday when the feuding parties were summoned to the Olubadan Palace at Oke-Aremo for the presentation of the committee’s findings. At the meeting, the council ruled in favour of the Ojofeitimi family, declaring that the land in question rightfully belonged to them and dismissing the Akoto family’s claim.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers in Oyo State, Mr Ajibade Bolanle, stated that findings from an independent survey, alongside records obtained from the state Ministry of Lands, confirmed the Ojofeitimi family’s ownership. He noted that the survey plan submitted by the Ojofeitimi family included an official red copy, whereas the document presented by the Akoto family lacked statutory validation.
Tension reportedly escalated when two of the three Akoto family representatives failed to attend the report presentation, raising suspicions among council members. The situation worsened following allegations that a member of the Ojofeitimi family, Mr Kunle Ojofeitimi, was assaulted during the investigation period despite the monarch’s directive for peace. He was said to have received treatment at Adeoyo State Hospital, and the incident was reported to the police.
Subsequently, one suspect was apprehended and handed over to the DSS, while efforts continue to track down the remaining two individuals.
Dignitaries present at the palace 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; the Aare Mayegun of Ibadanland, Chief Bayo Oyero; and the President-General of the Central Council of Ibadan Indigenes, Chief Niyi Ajewole, among others.
The palace reaffirmed its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that land-related disputes are resolved through due process in order to maintain peace and stability across Ibadanland.