The controversy surrounding the intention of a group of market elders of Bola Ige International Market Complex, to use an acquired land, belonging to a consortium known as Olaoluwa Montick, to construct a parking space has taken a new twist.
Fingered in this controversy is the former lawmaker, represented Oyo South, Senator Kola Balogun, who is allegedly backing the market elders to usurp the said space to construct car park inside the ultra modern market.
The land which originally belonged to the State government and Federal government was transferred to Alliwo Family/Ola Oluwa Montick as far back as 2017.
WesternLifeNewsNG sighted several documents from the Oyo state Ministry of Lands, Housing & Urban Development, indicating the legal transfer of the land to Alliwo Family/ the consortium, with due consent and approval of the original owner.
The deed of agreement also indicates Alliwo family and Olaoluwa Montick, as joint owners.
In January 2020, the market elders in their bid to takeover the land sued Alliwo Family/Olaoluwa Montick, and joined the commissioner for Land, commissioner for commerce, Oyo state commissioner of police as co-defendants. The case was struck out.
Two years later, the case was again brought before the High Court. The court in its judgement of June, 2022, struck out the case, premised its ruling on the non appearance of the appellant counsel.
The two suits was heard and adjudicated upon by the current Chief Judge of Oyo state, Justice Iyabo Yerima.
The trouble however started when Alliwo Family/Olaoluwa Montick finally got the approval from the Ministry of Land, Housing & Urban Development to commence building of structure on the land.
In what appeared as contempt of court, the elders council in the market stoutly showed their resistance over the matter, insisting on using the space for car park.
Having clearly showed their reluctance to seek the state government intervention and approval to build the car park, since necessary approvals for the acquisition of the land from both the state and federal government are in the possession of the Aliiwo Family/the consortium, they resorted to drag the matter to the palace of the Olubadan.
All through this incident, WesternLifeNewsNG reliably learnt that the market elders had curried the favour of Senator Balogun, who, according to sources, showed his interest in the matter.
Senator Balogun was said to have facilitated the meeting the Olubadan on Saturday, December 2, 2023.
Dr. Balogun, the younger brother of the Olubadan of Ibadanland, had been having running battle with the family of the monarch over the control of the palace and Olubadan’s properties.
Olubadan’s children sometime in September this year called out the former senator, represented Oyo South between 2019 and 2023, over the mismanagement of funds and their father’s properties.
But Senator Balogun had denied all the allegations, threatening to sue Olubadan’s children of defamation of character. He had however submitted a petition to the police.
At the Olubadan’s palace on Saturday, December 2, 2023, a source disclosed that “Senator Balogun hand in glove with market elders pressurised the monarch to see reason on their futile exercise and granted them their wish.
The Olubadan however reluntanly said he has heard them.
Meanwhile, speaking with our correspondent on Tuesday, a trustee of the Olaoluwa Montick, Chief Funso Owolabi Owoade (a.k.a. Student) expressed surprise over the matter brought before the Olubadan.
According to him, “prior to the meeting in the palace, the commissioner of police had a day before urged the two parties to maintain a status quo for 2 weeks for authenticationof documents presented. So what has Kabiesi got to do with the matter. I am sure they have forgotten that we have a respected, educated, cosmopolitan and honest monarch on the throne. To me these people are merely wasting their time.”
Owoade disclosed that since 2017, when the Aliiwo family and his company had lawfully acquired the land, there have been one trouble or the other.
He described Senator Balogun as a meddlesome interloper in the matter, saying the former senator was responsible for the dispatching of miscreants to the land to erect illegal board.
“There was a time, the so called Market Elders erected a signboard with an inscription Omituntun Car Park” on the acquired space. It took the intervention of the police before they realised their illegal action” he added.
He wondered why the market elders failed to tender a single proof to justify their action till now.
Mr Owolabi asked why Senator Balogun and elders council failed to extend invitation to his company, to send representatives to the meeting at the palace, if not they have hidden agenda.
According to him, “listening to a voice note of what transpired at the meeting, it suggested that their sole aim was to manipulate our Kabiesi.”
He said their plans have failed, stating that Oba Balogun has been known over the years as a firm believer of justice who will never indulge in any unwholesome matter.
Owoade added that when he visited Olubadan on Sunday, the monarch affirmed commitment to the original agreement with our company in respect of the land.
He told our correspondent that Oba Balogun had equally delegated a trusted palace representative to assist us in the matter.
I am not surprised. Senator Kola Balogun is a usurper. This is his way.