[ICYMI] Lagos intervenes as woman battles monarch for demolishing property, selling land

In the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, a fierce land battle is unfolding, pitting a 64-year-old woman against a monarch in a dispute that has turned the spotlight on longstanding issues of land ownership in the state. BABATUNDE TITILOLA reports

When Mrs Olaitan Ogunseye purchased a parcel of land from the royal family of Mushade Odugate of the Majolagbe Family in Ikorodu, Lagos State, in 2000, neither she nor her husband thought the purchase would be marred by heartbreaking controversies.

According to documents seen by this reporter, the 64-year-old woman bought the land located on Chris Aghanenu Street, Eyita, in the Ikorodu Local Government Area of the state from one of the monarch’s relatives in 2000, with complete documentation and a receipt.

Dated May 5, 2000, the joint signatures on the receipt were Haruna Saka, Sita Saka, Lasisi Saka, and Kehinde Saka. Sadly, Ogunseye’s hopes of building her family’s dream home were soon crushed after she was diagnosed with an illness that took some time to recover from. She left Nigeria to seek better treatment abroad, spending money, time, and energy on the traumatising experience.