*Petitions Oyo AG
By; BAYO AKAMO, Ibadan
An Ibadan based businessman, Mr Dapo Davies on Sunday, alleged a staff of the Oyo State Ministry of Justice, one Mr. Mashood (Esq) of shielding some land racketeer involving staff of Ministry of Lands and Alhaji Kamilu Orotoye.
Mr Davies through his lawyer, Mr Babatunde Oni & Co, has petitioned the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice over the alleged involvement of the staff of the Ministry on the said landed property situated at Ogunpa, Oke Padre Ibadan which is under litigation at the State High Court, Ibadan.
In a letter dated 6th September, 2023 and made available to journalists on Sunday, Titled: Re – “Suit No: 1/380/2013 Between: Mr. Dapo Davies Vs Alhaji Kamilu Orotoye & ORS”, Davies through his lawyer complained about the Senior Counsel at the Oyo State Ministry of Justice for allegedly aiding and assisting some land grabbers who are 1st and 2nd defendants in the above suit in erecting building on the disputed land.
The letter stressed that the alleged action of Mr Moshood (Esq) ” is targeted at subverting justice and also aiding an action that are likely to cause breach of public peace”.
Davies Lawyers in the petition signed by Niyi Okanlawon from Babatunde Oni & Co Chamber said “We are Solicitors to the Claimant in the above suit (hereinafter referred to as Our Client) on whose instruction we write on the above subject.
“Our Client instituted the above suit in respect of his land situate, lying and being at Ogunpa, Oke Padre, Ibadan via the Writ of Summons dated 14 May, 2023, wherein the Attorney General of Oyo State was sued as the 4th Defendant, the matter had already came up before Hon. Justice Akintola sitting as vacation judge on the following dates: 12th July, 2023, 17th August, 2023, 25th August, 2023, with the appearance of Mr. Moshood, Senior State Counsel with his Senior Colleague on the proceeding of 17th August 2023 for the 3rd-5th Defendants”, it said.
The letter added, “Having had the notice of the pending suit, the 1st and 2nd Defendants commenced construction on the disputed land which necessitated, Our Client to file an application for
interlocutory injunction dated 18th August, 2023, which was duly reacted to via the Counter Affidavit filed by the 1st and 2nd Defendants”.
“The said Application was fixed for hearing on the 5th September, 2023, however, court did not sit due to an industrial strike. We are reliably informed by Our Client that more to his chagrin, the 1st & 2nd Defendants have accelerated construction in the disputed land on the instruction of Mr. Moshood, a Senior Counsel of your Ministry, who claims to be acting under the instructions of the Attorney-General.”
The letter stressed, ” As if that was not enough, the said Mr. Moshood has confronted our Client on the said land while 1st and 2nd Defendants were constructing on the disputed land”, adding, ” We must state at this juncture that the conduct of Mr. Moshood of this Ministry is not only attempt to subvert justice, but also undermines the sanctity of the legal profession which is capable of stirring breach of public peace, should our client react that grave lawlessness”.
“Our Client is peace loving and a law abiding citizen, who in spite of the absence of interlocutory injunction over his property subject to litigation at Lebanon Street, Dugbe, Ibadan, which was engulfed by fire few years ago did not take step to renovate the property because of the respect he has for the Rule of Law and the Court.
“Against the backup of the above, we most humbly appeal to this highly esteemed office that the Mr Moshood be put to order, as his conduct falls below the standard of this hallowed Ministry.We hope our client will be accorded with dispatch it deserves in the interest of justice”.
