Counsel to Lagos businessman and Chief Executive Officer of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, Engr. Abiodun Ariori, has stated that his client is neither a land grabber nor a wanted person, Thecitypulsenews reports.
In a statement issued on Friday, Mr. Owolabi K. Oluwasegun Esq., counsel to Ariori, dismissed reports linking his client to the violent clash at Owode Onirin that reportedly claimed three lives.
Owolabi explained that Ariori has consistently acted within the law, working under valid court judgments and orders in respect of the disputed Owode land. According to him, the land in question belongs to the Olowu family, who had obtained judgments in their favour and subsequently engaged Ariori to enforce the court orders.
He noted that even the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, was part of the earlier enforcement process, and that Ariori and Olowu family were in lawful possession of the land to the knowledge of both the Lagos State Government and traders in the market.
“Engr. Ariori is not a land grabber. He is in possession of several valid court judgments, including appellate decisions, that guide his operations on the Owode land. He has never taken the law into his hands.” The counsel stated.
Owolabi further recalled that when disputes arose between the Olowu family, Agbeyi-Ketu LCDA, and the traders, the matter was taken before the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2 command, Mr. Adegoke Fayoade, and later discussed at a stakeholders’ meeting chaired by the Lagos State Attorney General, Mr Lawal Pedro SAN, with senior lawyer and counsel to the traders, Mr. Femi Falana (SAN) also in attendance.
At that meeting, it was reportedly agreed that the land should be shared on a 60-40 basis between the Olowu family (represented by Ariori) and Agbeyi-Ketu LCDA. The Attorney General had also clarified that allocation letters held by the marketers did not confer legal ownership of the land.
Despite this resolution, Owolabi alleged that the marketers went ahead to destroy properties belonging to Ariori and the Olowu family. He maintained that during the recent violence, Ariori was not on site and had no involvement in the chaos.
READ MORE: “Spacious” Cheers! City Pulse Salutes Chief Olayemi Emida on His Birthday
Powered by Inline Related Posts
The counsel therefore said Ariori was never a wanted person, insisting that such an action can only be ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction.
“No one can be declared wanted without a court order. My client has always obeyed the law and cooperated with security agencies. If summoned, he will appear with all the necessary documents to prove his lawful possession.” Owolabi said.
He added that those directly involved in the riot had already been summoned by the Commissioner of Police, and Ariori should not be falsely indicted in the matter.
Comments