Land Dispute: Fmr. NBA Sagamu Chair, Onafadeji, Ex-Convicts Arraigned For Alleged Conspiracy

A former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Sagamu
Branch, Rotimi Onafadeji, has been charged alongside four
ex-convicts for a three-count bothering on stealing, conspiracy,
and fraudulent conversion.

Onafadeji was dragged to a magistrates’ court sitting in the Ake
area of Abeokuta, the state capital, as a co-defendant in a
criminal suit involving a land dispute.

It was gathered that there is a lingering legal dispute
involving some families in the Isara Remo area of the state, where
55 hectares of land were reportedly leased to a Chinese
construction company, China Civil Engineering Construction
Corporation.

The other defendants are Emmanuel Sokabi, Kazeem Fadimu, Owolabi
Daniel, and Sule Olowolapemo.

It was learnt that the four of them had served two months term
over the same matter after they were convicted by a High Court in
Isara Remo.

According to Ayoola Sokabi, a witness invited by the prosecution
counsel of the Police, the land sold by the defendants belonged to
his grandfather, Daniel Sokabi.

As stated in the charge sheet filed by the Commissioner of
Police, the land now belongs to Adebayo Sokabi, Sanya Sokabi,
Jumoke Akinbami, Bolaji Aiyegbusi, Jimoh Sotuga, Oyelarin
Akinbowale, and Sokabi Ayoola.

Sokabi Ayoola explained that the ex-convicts, in October 2012,
unlawfully leased the land to CCECC under an umbrella name –
Ondoka, Soyombo, and Sokabi.

Ayoola in his testimony before O.T. Ayobolu said the land was
leased at the rate of N3.5 million per annum, for a period of 10
years, totaling N35 million.

He said he was invited to be a part of the alleged conspiracy,
and he “played along to get evidence against them.

“They were paid N25 million and I advised them to make copies of
the cheque because I wanted to have solid evidence”

He further alleged that the remaining N10 million was paid to
Rotimi Onafadeji.

The case was adjourned till 7th and 9th April 2021.

A former chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Sagamu
Branch, Rotimi Onafadeji, has been charged alongside four
ex-convicts for a three-count bothering on stealing, conspiracy,
and fraudulent conversion.

Onafadeji was dragged to a magistrates’ court sitting in the Ake
area of Abeokuta, the state capital, as a co-defendant in a
criminal suit involving a land dispute.

It was gathered that there is a lingering legal dispute
involving some families in the Isara Remo area of the state, where
55 hectares of land were reportedly leased to a Chinese
construction company, China Civil Engineering Construction
Corporation.

The other defendants are Emmanuel Sokabi, Kazeem Fadimu, Owolabi
Daniel, and Sule Olowolapemo.

It was learnt that the four of them had served two months term
over the same matter after they were convicted by a High Court in
Isara Remo.

According to Ayoola Sokabi, a witness invited by the prosecution
counsel of the Police, the land sold by the defendants belonged to
his grandfather, Daniel Sokabi.

As stated in the charge sheet filed by the Commissioner of
Police, the land now belongs to Adebayo Sokabi, Sanya Sokabi,
Jumoke Akinbami, Bolaji Aiyegbusi, Jimoh Sotuga, Oyelarin
Akinbowale, and Sokabi Ayoola.

Sokabi Ayoola explained that the ex-convicts, in October 2012,
unlawfully leased the land to CCECC under an umbrella name –
Ondoka, Soyombo, and Sokabi.

Ayoola in his testimony before O.T. Ayobolu said the land was
leased at the rate of N3.5 million per annum, for a period of 10
years, totaling N35 million.

He said he was invited to be a part of the alleged conspiracy,
and he “played along to get evidence against them.

“They were paid N25 million and I advised them to make copies of
the cheque because I wanted to have solid evidence”

He further alleged that the remaining N10 million was paid to
Rotimi Onafadeji.

The case was adjourned till 7th and 9th April 2021.