Agbodemu & Ors v. Oloto & Ors. - Complaint To NHRC - Submitted May 8 2014

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JUSTICE & EMPOWERMENT
INITIATI VES NIGERI A

7 May 2014

Dr. Bem Angwe, Executive Secretary
National Human Rights Commission
19 Aguiyi Ironsi Street
Maitama, Abuja
Federal Capital Territory
Nigeria

FORCED EVI CTI ON, DEMOLI TI ON, VI OLENCE, AND WRONGFUL ARREST
PERPETRATED BY THE OLOTO CHI EFTAI NCY FAMI LY AND LAGOS STATE POLI CE
AGAI NST MR. MUSBAU I SHOLA AGBODEMU OF OTTO I LOGBO COMMUNI TY, EBUTE
METTA, LAGOS:

URGENT PRAYER FOR I NTERI M RELI EFS

SUBMITTED DURING THE UPCOMING NHRC PUBLIC INQUIRY ON DEMOLITIONS/FORCED
EVICTIONS IN LAGOS, 5-8 MAY 2014

Dear Prof. Angwe:

We write urgently on behalf of Mr. Musbau Ishola Agbodemu of Otto Ilogbo
community, Ebute Metta, Lagos, who in April 2014 suffered forced eviction and
demolition, violence and wrongful arrest, together with his family and other
members of his community, at the hands of the Oloto Chieftaincy Family. Due to
the urgency of this matter, we respectfully pray for the National Human Rights
Commission (NHRC) to consider exercising its powers to issue interim reliefs on
behalf of Mr. Agbodemu and the other complainants.

As further detailed in the full complaint attached, Mr. Agbodemu seeks interim and
permanent injunctions against further demolition of his property and restitution for
properties and money looted by agents of the Oloto Chieftaincy Family, along with
damages for the rights violations against himself, his family and other members of
his community. In submitting this complaint, we humbly note that the NHRC is
empowered to receive and investigate complaints concerning violations and make
appropriate determination as may be deemed necessary in each circumstance.
National Human Rights Commission Act, 1995 (as amended), section 5(j). The award
of interim measures in cases of urgency to prevent further human rights violation is
provided for in Rule 67 of the NHRC Standing Orders and Rules of Procedure, 2013.

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Mr. Agbodemu is an upstanding citizen who has resided in the Lagos community of
Otto since 1974, where his father had built a structure for residence and rental
purposes. In 1998, Mr. Agbodemu obtained permission from the land-owning Oloto
Chieftaincy Family and built three structures in the area known as the Otto Ilogbo
Extension community. In 2008, the community registered a Community
Development Association. Mr. Agbodemu acted as the first CDA Chairman from
2008 to 2013, when he stepped down and became Secretary. Mr. Agbodemu
additionally operates a slum school in the community for poor children who
otherwise would not benefit from education. He has worked extensively to
empower and develop his community, working closely with the police and non-
governmental organizations to bring peace and development.

The Oloto Chieftaincy Family has a history of violence and intimidation against the
Otto Ilogbo Extension community, including a suspected arson incident in February
2010 that led to one death and displaced hundreds. Mr. Agbodemu helped to
ensure the arrest of five members of the Chieftaincy Family over these incidents.

In the early morning hours of 2 April 2014, fire destroyed at least thirty residences
and business places in Otto Ilogbo Extension, including Mr. Agbodemus residence
and the slum school. Asked to wait on word of possible assistance from the Oloto
Chieftaincy Family, Mr. Agbodemu put up a temporary canopy for the children to
continue their schooling and for his family to sleep under at night. After three weeks
of waiting, Mr. Agbodemu and other members of the community began to rebuild.

On 22 April, Chief Dosunmu of the Oloto Family, accompanied by area boys,
entered the community without warning and demolished the Mr. Agbodemus
buildings and looted his property and money. Mr. Agbodemu had invested
N80,000 in rebuilding, along with another N50,000 donated by an NGO that
supported the school. Additionally, Mr. Agbodemu had taken N100,000 out of the
bank just that morning in preparation for his mothers upcoming funeral; he had left
it locked in his wifes shop in the community, which was also looted. The
construction costs, the money and some of his other properties were lost in the
demolition and looting.

That same afternoon, the Chief and the area boys also attempted to kidnap Mr.
Agbodemu, beating him severely in the process. Mr. Agbodemu managed to
escape and ran to the Iponri Police Station to report the incident. Despite having
been the victims of the attack on person and property, Mr. Agbodemu and two
other community members, Mr. Rashidi Liameed and Mr. Morufu Afolabi, were
detained for a day without any charges being pressed or indication they were being
investigated for any crime. They were released only after several parties intervened

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on their behalf and after the DCO of the Iponri Police Station attempted to coerce
them to sign an undertaking that they would not rebuild without Olotos consent.
To date, there has been no redress for the destruction of property, stolen property
and money, or the unlawful detention and Mr. Agbodemu remains afraid to rebuild
or return to his home due to threats from the Oloto Chieftaincy Family.

Justice and Empowerment Initiatives (JEI) thus comes on behalf of Mr. Agbodemu to
request the NHRC to include this case in the upcoming hearings on forced evictions
and demolitions in Lagos State. Please find attached NHRC Complaint Form No. 1,
witness statements and evidence in support of the complaint.

Thank you for your urgent attention to this important matter.

Sincerely,

Megan S. Chapman
Co-Director

Cc: Tony Ojukwu, Esq.
Registrar, Public Inquiry on Forced Evictions & Demolitions
National Human Rights Commission

Compl ai nant s Servi ce Address:

Comrade Musbau Ishola Agbodemu
9 Ondo Street West
Ebute Metta, Lagos

Respondent s Servi ce Address:

Chief Dosunmu, Lisa of Oloto
(for the Oloto Chieftaincy Family)
38 Ogundimu Street
Ebute Metta, Lagos

FORM 1 Rule...
FI RST SCHEDULE
FEDERAL REPUBLI C OF NI GERI A
NATI ONAL HUMAN RI GHTS COMMI SSI ON OF NI GERI A

COMPLAINT NO ________ OF 2014

COMPLAINANT DATA COLLECTION FORM
1. Compl ai nant s I denti ty
Victim (yes/no) Next--of--kin (yes/no) Other: N/A
Reasons why the victims(s) is/are unable to submit complaint in person: N/A
Name(s) of Victims: Agbodemu I shol a Musbau, Rashi di Li ameed, Morufu
Afol abi , I shol a Abosede, Samson I shol a, Mari am I shol a, I brahi m I shol a
Is victim: (a) A minor or child (yes/no) NB: Samson, Mari am and I brahi m
I shol a are mi nor chi l dren, represented by thei r parents,
Musbau I shol a Agbodemu and I shol a Abosede
(b) Permanently incapacitated (yes/no)
(c) Mentally disabled (yes/no), if yes, please provide proof
(d) Represented by counsel or other person (yes/no)
(e) Desirous of confidentiality (yes/no), if yes, details please
Address/contact details of victim
Agbodemu I shol a Musbau
c/o Lagos Margi nal i zed Communi ti es Forum ( LAMCOFOR)
9 Ondo Street West
Ebute Metta, Lagos Mai nl and

If Next--of--Kin, please state nature of relationship............
Age Bracket of victim: 0-10 11-20 21-30 31-45 45-55 Above 55 Vari ous
Gender: Male/Female Both
Profession/Occupation: Busi ness Man, Pri nter, Dri ver, Trader, Students
Marital Status: Single, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Separated - Vari ous
Nationality: Ni geri an
State of Domicile in Nigeria: Lagos State
Local Government of Domicile: Lagos Mai nl and LGA
Physical or Street Address: Otto I l ogbo Extensi on Communi ty
Telephone Number: 08026754374, 08077565466 ( Agbodemu)
Name of Next-of-Kin:
Address of Next-of-kin:
Telephone Number of Next-of-kin:
Nature of relationship with Next-of-kin:
Referring person or Organisation: Justi ce & Empowerment I ni ti ati ves ( JEI )
If an Organisation, indicate name and numbers of contact person:
Megan Chapman, Co-Di rector, megan@j ustempower.org, 08187196021
Name of Respondent: Chi ef Dosunmu Ol oto, Li sa Ol oto of Otto
Lukmon Dosunmu Ol oto
Babatunde Odesanya Ol oto
And Others ( Unknown)

ASP Adegoke, I ponri Pol i ce Stati on Di vi si onal
Cri me Offi cer ( former) , Ni geri an Pol i ce Force

Contact Address of Respondent:
Chi ef Dosunmu Ol oto, Li sa Ol oto of Otto
& Lukmon Dosunmu Ol oto
38 Ogundi mu Street
Otto Central Communi ty
Ebute Metta, Lagos

2 Pal ace Road
Ebute Metta, Lagos

ASP Adegoke, I ponri Pol i ce Stati on Di vi si onal Cri me Offi cer ( former)
Ni geri an Pol i ce Force
Lagos State Command

Telephone Numbers of Respondent: Unknown

2. I nci dent or Al l egati ons of Vi ol ati ons
Date/Time/Month/Year: 22 Apri l 2014 and conti nui ng
Place/Location: Otto I l ogbo Extensi on Communi ty
Kind of violation alleged (e.g. unlawful killing, massacre, rape or other sexual
assault, persecution, domestic violence, torture, cruel, other inhuman or degrading
treatment, abduction, disappearance, unfair dismissal, forced eviction, etc.):
Forced evi cti on, destructi on and l ooti ng of property, attempted
abducti on, assaul t, fal se accusati on and unl awful detenti on
(Attach signed statement of witness if possible) See attached

3. Parti cul ars of Vi ol ati on
Indicate reason or likely reasons behind the violation (e.g. domestic, labor, political,
inter-ethnic or inter-communal, abuse by law enforcement or security agencies,
ordinary crime, militia violence, land grab, religious or sectarian causes etc.)
Retal i ati on and i nti mi dati on ( see wi tness statement for detai l s)

4. Parti cul ars of Persons or I nsti tuti ons Compl ai ned Agai nst
Name Chi ef Dosunmu Ol oto, Li sa Ol oto of Otto
Lukmon Dosunmu Ol oto
ASP Adegoke, I ponri Pol i ce Stati on Di vi si onal Cri me Offi cer
I ndi vi dual ( s) /Community Institution
Any distinguishing features (e.g. uniforms, tribal marks, height, complexion, vehicle
numbers, etc.)
If officials of Government indicate agency and whether state or federal:
Lagos State Command

Physical Address:
Chi ef Dosunmu Ol oto, Li sa Ol oto of Otto
& Lukmon Dosunmu Ol oto
38 Ogundi mu Street
Ebute Metta, Lagos

2 Pal ace Road
Ebute Metta, Lagos

Lagos State Command

Telephone Numbers: Unknown

5. Supporti ng Evi dence
Indicate and attach any evidence such as witness statements, affidavits, documents,
photographs, medical, survey, geophysical or other expert reports, etc. (use
separate sheets if necessary) See the fol l owi ng exhi bi ts attached and
marked:
- Exhi bi t A1-3. Certificate of Registration and 2 Election Certificates for the
Ifesowapo Otto Ilogbo Area Community Development Association
- Exhi bi t B. 2010 letter to Governor Fashola regarding suspected arson by
Oloto Chieftaincy Family in Otto Ilogbo Extension.
- Exhi bi t C1-C5. Copies of articles regarding the 2 April 2014 file in Otto
Ilogbo Extension and subsequent incidents.
- Exhi bi t D. Photographs taken by Mr. Agbodemu of his partially
reconstructed-then-demolished structure.
- Exhi bi t E. Receipt from First Bank dated 22 April 2014 for N100,000.
6. Wi tness Detai l s
Indicate if there were any witnesses to (any aspects of) the violations. If yes, please
indicate:
First Witness
. (a) Name: Agbodemu I shol a Musbau
. (b) Age: 44
. (c) Occupation: Busi nessman
. (d) Contact address: 9 Ondo West Street, Ebute Metta, Lagos
. (e) Telephone Number: 08026754374, 08077565466
. (f) Would the witness be willing to testify (yes/no)
. (g) Does the witness require protection (yes/no). If yes, why? The
Respondents have been threateni ng the wi tness and hi s fami l y
members ever si nce the vi ol ati on occurred. See wi tness statement
for detai l s.
Second Witness
. (a) Name: Dr. Adeol u Ol usodo
. (b) Age: 40
. (c) Occupation: Medi cal Di rector, STARS Cl i ni c
. (d) Contact address: 77/79 Apapa Road, Ebute Metta, Lagos
. (e) Telephone Number: 08080445336
. (f) Would the witness be willing to testify (yes/no)
. (g) Does the witness require protection (yes/no). If yes, why? Si nce he i s a
resi dent of the area under the i nfl uence of the Ol oto Chi eftai ncy
Fami l y, the Respondents may trace hi m due to hi s sol i dari ty and
support to the vi cti ms and hi s statements agai nst them
7. Remedi es Sought
Indicate the kind of remedies, if any, that you seek from the Commission:

1. Order of i nteri m i nj uncti on agai nst the Respondents restrai ni ng
them, thei r agents and pri vi es from further harassment,
destructi on and l ooti ng of property, physi cal vi ol ence, or fal se
accusati on agai nst the Compl ai nants and agai nst i nterference
wi th the operati on of Young Leaders Academy.

2. Order of permanent i nj uncti on agai nst the Respondents
restrai ni ng them, thei r agents and pri vi es from further
harassment, destructi on and l ooti ng of property, physi cal
vi ol ence, or fal se accusati on agai nst the Compl ai nants and
agai nst i nterference wi th the operati on of Young Leaders
Academy.

3. Order of permanent i nj uncti on restrai ni ng the Respondents from
i nterferi ng wi th the peace and securi ty of Otto I l ogbo Extensi on
Communi ty.

4. Order of mandatory i nj uncti on for the Respondents to rebui l t the
wrongful l y demol i shed structure bel ongi ng to the Compl ai nants
and return al l the l ooted property, i ncl udi ng the stol en
N100,000.

5. Order of compensati on for the ri ghts vi ol ati ons suffered i n the
sum of N5 mi l l i on for the I shol a fami l y, N5 mi l l i on for Mr. Rashi di
Li ameed, and N5 mi l l i on for Mr. Morufu Afol abi .

8. Previ ous Steps Taken
(Briefly indicate any previous steps that you have taken since the violation alleged.
E.g. reported the matter to police, public administration, church, labour, tribunal,
lawyer, NGO, filed a suit in court etc. Attach proof if possible)
The Compl ai nants attempted to enter a compl ai nt agai nst the
Respondents at the I ponri Pol i ce Stati on, Ebute Metta Lagos, on 22
Apri l 2014, whereupon the Compl ai nants were unl awful l y detai ned for
a peri od of 24 hours.
After hi s rel ease and di scoveri ng the further l ooti ng of hi s properti es
i n Otto I l ogbo Extensi on Communi ty, Mr. Agbodemu agai n vi si ted
I ponri Pol i ce Stati on on 27 Apri l 2014 to put another compl ai nt before
the Di vi si onal Pol i ce Offi cer Kunl e Adesokan. To date, no further
acti on has been taken. See wi tness statements for addi ti onal detai l s.
9. Decl arati on
(a) I hereby certify that the information given by me is true to the best of my
knowledge and the same has been given voluntarily and I further authorise the
Commission to use the same in reports for the purposes of promotion or protection
of human rights:
Signature of Complainant or Representative Date 08/05/2014
(b) I would prefer my case to be identified anonymously (without the victims name
or other identity markers) YES/NO
Signature/Thumbprint of Complainant or Representative
(b) I hereby certify that the contents of this complaint have been read over and
explained to me in my own language and, not being literate in English language,
that I understand the contents as reflecting my complaint and hereby confirm that
by the mark appended below:
Thumbprint of Complainant or Representative Date 08/05/2014
Signature of Attending Officer......................................... Date.....................................
10. Detai l s of Attendi ng Offi cer
Name:
Position:
Signature:
Location:
Date:
FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES
11. Assessment ( by offi cer of the Commi ssi on)
(Briefly state the assessment of the Secretariat):

12. Prel i mi nary Recommendati on:
Admissible Inadmissible

NATI ONAL HUMAN RI GHTS COMMI SSI ON

COMPLAI NT NO. ___________

AGBODEMU I SHOLA MUSBAU
RASHI DI LI AMEED
MORUFU AFOLABI
I SHOLA ABOSEDE COMPLAI NANTS
SAMSON I SHOLA
MARI AM I SHOLA
I BRAHI M I SHOLA

V.

CHI EF DOSUNMU OLOTO, LI SA OLOTO OF OTTO
LUKMON DOSUNMU OLOTO
BABATUNDE ODESANYA OLOTO RESPONDENTS
ASP ADEGOKE, I PONRI POLI CE STATI ON
DI VI SI ONAL CRI ME OFFI CER ( f ormer)

WITNESS STATEMENT OF MR. AGBODEMU ISHOLA MUSBAU
I, Musbau Ishola Agbodemu, Nigerian, Muslim, Male, businessman, of the area known as Otto
Ilogbo Extension in Ebute Metta, Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Lagos State, do hereby
state as follows:

1. That I am the 1
st
Complainant in this case and a long-time resident of Otto Ilogbo Extension
community as well as the former Community Development Association Chairman.
2. That by virtue of the above, I am conversant with the facts deposed to herein.
3. That my father moved to the Otto community in 1972. In 1974, the rest of the family and
myself came to join him, and I lived with him in Otto Central until 1998.
4. That in 1998, several others and I took permission from the Oloto Chieftaincy Family and
paid them a one-time fee for three areas of swampy land adjoining Otto Central in the area
that became known as Otto Ilogbo Extension. I paid N15,000 for an area where I built a 14-
room structure, N24,000 for an area where I built a 16-room structure, and N24,000 for a
large area where I built a small 4-room structure. Before building, I invested significantly to
fill and develop the land to make it suitable for building.
5. That in 2002, a fire burned 15 buildings in Otto Ilogbo Extension, including my 14-room
structure. Immediately after the fire, the Oloto family stopped us from rebuilding. We waited
over 8 months before we were allowed to rebuild. I did not pay the Oloto family anything.
6. That sometime in 2008, I started to organize the community to register the Ifesowapo Otto
Ilogbo Area Community Development Association (CDA) with the Ministry of Rural
Development at the Alausa-Ikeja Secretariat. I met with Ministry officials and received a list of
requirements. On 9 April 2009, I was elected Chairman of the Ifesowapo Otto-Ilogbo Area
CDA. I worked with the community to fulfill the requirements for registration, and on 14 June
2011, we were granted a Certificate of Registration by the Lagos State Government. On 20
December 2011, I was re-elected as the Chairman. In 2013, I stepped down as Chairman and
was elected Secretary. The current CDA Chairman is Mr. Rashidi Liameed. (See Exhi bi t A1-
A3, both Certificate of Election and the Certificate of Registration).
7. That our CDA meets every month at the Local Government Secretariat and every year we
pay a renewal fee of N5,000 to Lagos State and N2,000 to the Lagos Mainland LGA.
8. That I believe the Oloto family became displeased with me due to the fact that I organized
the community to form a CDA.
9. That on 1 February 2010, while trying to mediate a dispute between two community elders, I
was confronted by Chief Dosunmu, the Lisa of Oloto. Although I had never met him before,
he started saying that it was my fault that people were fighting. He made many threats,
including, If you do not leave this community in peace, you will leave in pieces.
10. That, together with the CDA, I decided to go see the King of Oloto. The first time I went, on
4 February 2010, I was blocked from seeing the King by Chief Jubril Aro of Oloto and Chief
Samson Eletu of Oloto. I went again on 10 February 2010 and, though I was able to see the
King, he would not allow me to speak to him of the encounter with Chief Dosunmu.
11. That two weeks later, on 27 February 2010, around 2:00 am, a fire was set in several different
areas of the community. I and about 117 other landlords lost our structures and properties.
All our tenants lost their properties and were displaced.
12. That I reported the fire to the police and assisted them to move the body of one Mr. Abas,
who had died during the fire, to the morgue.
13. That the next day the King of Oloto came to the burned area accompanied by the town
crier. He said that the Oloto family knows of the incident and that no one should rebuild,
we do not want you people again. This message made people start questioning the King
and the fire, and we resolved to sleep in the open on our reclaimed land and not leave.
14. That we sought help from the Lagos State Commissioner of Home Affairs and were visited
by many officials who asked for a list of all the people affected. The CDA compiled a list of
all the landlords and tenants with pictures. After turning over this list, we started erecting
small sheds on our reclaimed land.
15. That on 12 March 2010, a number of men who were a part of the Lagos Mainland
Neighborhood Watcher, led by the head of the organization Mr. Muiz Salako, came to Otto
Ilogbo Extension with a son of the King of Oloto and the sons of two other chiefs. They were
about 16 in total, and were carrying clubs, sticks, and other weapons. They started
destroying our sheds and chasing us off the land.
16. That I wrote a letter to the Governor of Lagos State informing him of what had happened. In
response, an IPO from Lagos State Command named Oluwakemi Bashorun was told to look
further into the cause of the fire. Shortly thereafter, five people were arrested: Chief
Dosunmu, Chief Jubril Aro, Chief Samson Eletu, Muiz Salako, and a political party chairman
who was working for the Oloto, and who had denied me registration for the political party.
(See Exhi bi t B for a copy of the letter.)
17. That the IPO explained that he believed that the actions of the Oloto Chiefs were enough to
establish that they had set the fires. He also said if we took this matter to court and sent
members of the Oloto family to jail, things would not go well because we all live in the same
environment. He therefore recommended we should resolve the matter in some other way.
We agreed to drop the charges and started rebuilding.
18. That while rebuilding, I decided to add a 9-room school for children in the community and to
adjoin the structure to the 3-room structure where I lived with my family.
19. That in 2011, I formed the Slumdweller Liberation Forum to help continue the trainings and
work that organizations were bringing to Otto Ilogbo, and to focus on education so that the
community could use the opportunities to assist themselves. I formed many partnerships,
including with the STARS Clinic, led by Dr. Adeolu Olusodo, to help support the provision of
basic education and health care of children in Otto.
20. That in 2011, the Ministry of Environment came and started mark our buildings. We went to
the Oloto family for assistance and were told that the reclaimed swamp area did not belong
to them and they would have nothing to do with it. Instead, we contacted the Social and
Economic Rights Action Center (SERAC) for legal help. The court case lasted 2 ! years, and
ultimately prevented the government from further incursions into our community.
21. That there was no further contact with the government or the Oloto regarding use of the
land until the fire on 2 April 2014.
22. That around 2:00am on 2 April 2014, I was working with a security group to patrol the area
when my wife called around midnight and told me that Otto Ilogbo was on fire. I returned to
find my home and the school on fire. Around 35 landlords, including myself, lost property.
The next morning we started to clean and fence our properties.
23. That at a request from the DPO of the Iponri Police Station, I agreed to a meeting on 3 April
with the DCO, together with a son of the King of Otolo named Prince Ajibola, a friend of
Prince Ajibola, and the DPO. I was advised that the King wanted to be officially informed of
the fire, that he might be willing to help the community with relief materials, and that we
should wait to reconstruct. I agreed to wait until we had seen the King and together with the
CDA we all agreed to fence off our compounds and only construct temporary structures
while waiting.
24. That I built a temporary structure for the school to operate out of during the day and for my
family to sleep in at night, as well as a smaller place for my wifes shop.
25. That on 4 April, Mr. Liameed, the Chairman of the CDA, together with the CDAs Social
Secretary and the Financial Secretary, went to deliver a letter officially reporting the fire
incident and meet with the King of Oloto. After a brief meeting, they were told to return
later. However, when they returned, they were informed that the King had left and would not
return. They continued to try and visit him, and got another appointment for 10 April. This
appointment too was cancelled.
26. That on the same 4 April, the CDA started mapping the community so that as people rebuilt,
they would make sure to have sufficient space in between new structures for roads and other
community upgrading.
27. That on 10 April, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) visited to get
information on the extent of the destruction. We have received no assistance from them.
28. That a son of the King of Oloto and the sons of two Chiefs of Oloto started entering the
community to harass the victims of the fire. They came for the first time on 15 April and
continued to return to make threats, saying that they would destroy what the people built,
that they were going to chase the people out, etc. They stopped after an article was
published in The Saturday Mirror on 19 April that reported the harassment. (See Exhi bi t
C1-C5 for a copy of this article along with four other articles about the fire in our
community).
29. That the CDA representatives were unable to get another appointment with the King and
after two very heavy rain falls we decided to start rebuilding on 20 April.
30. That I started to build the structure for the school, and put in around N80,000 towards
materials and assistance, while Dr. Adeolu from STARS Clinic donated N50,000 towards
rebuilding the structure.
31. That I also planned with Dr. Adeolu to hold a Clinic at my compound on 22 April, so that Dr.
Adeolu and his staff could do a health check for the residents living out-doors.
32. That on 22 April, shortly before the community clinic was to take place, Chief Dosunmu of
Oloto came to my compound with his son and four area boys. He again told me that I had
better leave the community in peace or else he would see to it that I leave in pieces. Then
he told the boys he came with to start demolishing my structure while he sat in a chair and
watched and smoked a cigarette. I took pictures as they did this. (See Exhi bi t D, Pictures
taken by Mr. Agbodemu of the destruction of his structure).
33. That no one in the community tried to stop the demolition, people in the community began
getting upset. Chief Dosunmu made a phone call for more people to come to my
compound, and I decided to call the DPO to request police protection. The DPO agreed to
send some officers to the community, but explained that he was not in town.
34. That before the police could arrive, more area boys arrived and at the direction of Chief
Dosunmu, they grabbed me. I resisted and the boys started hitting me. In the struggle, I fell
on the ground and they started rolling me in the dirt and dragging me. At some point, they
hit me hard enough that I temporarily blacked out, but when I woke, they continued
dragging me. People from the community started shouting and getting in the way, allowing
me to free myself and run for the police station. As I was running, Dr. Adeolu caught up with
me in his car and drove me to the Iponri Police Station.
35. That I later heard that the police had arrived in the community and arrested a community
member, Mr. Morufu Afolabi, and brought him to the police station along with Mr. Liameed
and Chief Dosunmu.
36. That members of my community later told me that, after the police left, the area boys
continued destroying my property and looting my home and my wifes store. I found the
evidence of this and all the damage the next night after being released from detention.
37. That among the properties destroyed and stolen was N100,000 I had taken from the bank in
preparation for my mothers funeral. (See Exhi bi t E, receipt dated 22 April 2014 from First
Bank evidencing withdrawal).
38. That at the police station, Dr. Adeolu and I found Mr. Afolabi, Mr. Liameed, Chief Dosunmu
and two other Oloto family chiefs, Chief Taye Alashe and Chief Alaba Akeju in the office of
the DCO. Later Prince Ajibola, the King of Olotos son, joined. The DCO told us that the
DPO had called him and informed him that there was a problem in the community. The DCO
asked Chief Dosunmu what had happened, who responded that he came to see me on the
instruction of the King of Oloto, and that the community had wanted to beat him up. The
Chief said that Mr. Liameed was a part of it as well.
39. That the DCO then asked me to explain, and I said that the Chief had started demolishing
my property and called in more boys, and that those boys had tried to take me away. I
showed him the bruises from when I had fought to free myself.
40. That we were then taken to the investigation room and told to each write our statements of
the events. When we finished, the DCO told the IPO to arrest and detain me, Mr. Liameed
and Mr. Afolabi. He told everyone else to go.
41. That the following day, Mr. Liameed, Mr. Afolabi and I met with the same people as before.
When I asked the DCO why we were arrested when we had been the ones to seek police
protection, the DCO explained that the police can detain anyone.
42. That the DCO then took us in police vehicle to go see the King of Oloto, who confirmed that
he had sent Chief Dosunmu to see me, but did not respond to questions about whether he
had intended Chief Dosunmu to destroy my home, attack me, and try to kidnap me. The
King also told the DCO that the Oloto family is the rightful owner of the land and anyone
else claiming an interest must show evidence.
43. That we next went to my compound and the DCO took pictures of the damage.
44. That I felt that the police were more concerned with the power of the King of Oloto than
with the attack on my person or property.
45. That after these trips we were taken back to the police station and I instructed my family not
to pay bail because I should not have been detained in the first place.
46. That 31 hours after I was detained, the police released Mr. Liameed, Mr. Afolabi, and myself.
No charges have been filed and no further investigation done into the complaint I filed.
47. That since my release, the sons and thugs of the Oloto family have continued to threaten me
from a distance. Fearful for our lives, my family and I cannot go back to our compound at
night and we are afraid to tell anyone where we stay.
48. That I pray for this Honorable Commission to help me to get justice for the losses suffered
and protection from further assaults so that I can return to rebuild my home and the school. I
likewise pray for the same reparations and protection for others in my community.
49. That I make this statement in good faith and believing the same to be true.

Signed this ____ day of May 2014.
DEPONENT

Exhibit A1
Exhibit A2
Exhibit B1. Letter to
Lagos State Governor
Exhibit B2. Letter of Invitation from
Lagos State Police Command
8/29/2014 Ifesowapo, where residents sleep on ashes
http://www.punchng.com/special-feature/ifesowapo-where-residents-sleep-on-ashes/ 1/6
A cross section of the residents in the
open on Sunday evening and A
displaced woman and two of her
children take refuge in an
uncompleted shop
| credits: Olaleye Aluko
Ifesowapo, where residents sleep on ashes
APRIL 10, 2014 BY OLALEYE ALUKO
Some 200 residents of Ifesowapo, a Lagos slum, are now living
in terrible conditions after a fire incident, OLALEYE ALUKO
writes
It is a windy evening on Jones Street, off Apapa Road in Ebute
Meta West area. Most people are hurrying to their houses as
the increasing breeze suggests a rainfall might be on the way.
But for Ifesowapo, one of the communities in the area, the
residents are in a different mood.
Rather than taking cover in any building, the people in this
community, in groups of their families, are arranging some
planks and burnt roofing sheets in the open environment, and spreading clothes on the surface to make it
comfortable for sleeping. The time is 9:45pm on Sunday.
Ifesowapo Community may be a slum but it is located in the heart of Lagos. The community, which had
approximately 3,000 residents before a recent fire disaster displaced many of them, shares boundary with Otto
Town, on Jones Street, off Apapa Road, Ebute Meta West in Lagos Mainland Local Government.
Woken up by fire outbreak
About a week ago, Wednesday, April 2 precisely, the residents had also been sleeping in the comfort of their
houses when the unbelievable struck them. Around 2am, the people were woken up by the raging noise of a
large fire which broke out from an unidentified source and razed their shanties most of which were built with
half-block and half-plank.
After the inferno had raged for about three hours, hundreds of their houses had become ashes. The billows of
smoke emanating from the community that morning would seem to neighbouring areas as a bomb explosion.
Indeed, to the displaced people, the fire on that morning looked like a nightmare. But the smoke reminded the
wailing residents that the fire was real as real as the agony they would be having in the following days. Part
of this agony is that, for those who do not have an emergency residence to relocate to, sleeping on the rubble
is the only option.
One of these landlords, Mr. Afolabi Morufu, who lost an eight-bedroom apartment, and has lived in the area for
21 years, explains their ordeal better.
He says, After the fire incident, we had no place to go because most of us are low-income earners. I am a
commercial driver, married with five children. Some people have temporarily relocated, but those of us who can
not have to be spending the night in the open space.
What we do is to arrange wood on these ashes and you see each family sleeping on their plots of land. It is
unbelievable but we have no other option.
Another victim who is Morufus neighbour, Mr. Kamorudeen Sulaiman, confirmed this, and the two men on
Friday afternoon took this reporter round the area which has been reduced to rubble. Only burnt roofing sheets,
broken bottles and China ware, however, remain to testify that some houses had once been erected there.
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Children at mercy of mosquitoes
Still in doubt about whether the residents were truly sleeping on the rubble in the open environment, this
reporter decided to pay a visit to the fire-ravaged community on Sunday evening.
Accompanied by the Secretary of the Ifesowapo Community Development Association, Mr. Ishola Agbodemu,
the reporters walk around there reveals much more than the ears have heard.
On planks arranged on the ground to minimise the effects of ashes, broken bottles and other forms of rubble,
the residents, each group as a family, gather together to eat and sleep. The population, in each family is not
less than five and the young children are obviously more than the adults.
For a few families, the children are sleeping inside mosquito nets, tied to makeshift walls, while the majority of
families simply leave their young ones to the mercy of the mosquitoes.
Agbodemu explains how the few nets came about, saying, The fire incident happened on Wednesday
morning. I was not at home as I work with a security outfit, the Vigilantes Group of Nigeria. I am the Head of
Operation in Lagos Mainland Local Government. I had two structures, a three-bedroom flat and a five-room
apartment which was used as community primary school.
By the time I arrived, the fire had razed everything, except our people. Then, on Thursday, a non-
governmental organisation, Love and Social Justice Society, visited us and distributed some relief items such
as mosquito nets, toothpastes, buckets and toilet soaps. These are the nets that are hung in the open at night.
It is also said that after the incident, the residents contributed between N5,000 and N10,000 each to erect
some wooden structures. But this can only accommodate a few, as many others still sleep in the open,
particularly on their portion of land where the houses had been.
Since the fire incident, my family and I have also been sleeping in the open. Just today, I bought a canopy for
N7,000 to make a tent, but we all are still lying on the rubble of our burnt buildings.
Like a refugee camp
One of the men interviewed on Sunday evening, Mr. Paul Njoku from Imo State, says he has been living in the
community since 1999, and has nowhere to go after the incident.
I have eight children and four grandchildren. My six-bedroom apartment was razed by the inferno, and we
have been sleeping on these planks for about a week. Government should please assist us in whatever way
they deem fit. We are not saying they should build houses for us, but we want to feel their presence, more so,
in the provision of social amenities, he says.
While this discussion lasts, Njokus grandchildren are fast asleep on the planks, partially covered with clothes,
while his wife sits on a stool near a stove, cooking. The environment generally looks like groups of people from
war-torn countries, who have been brought to seek protection in a refugee camp.
Another resident, a woman and mother of five children, Mrs. Zainab Ogunniyi, confirms that life has been
synonymous with hell since the fire incident.
We eat, sleep and do everything in the open, except to bathe. My husband is a vulcaniser, but his equipment
also got burnt on that fateful day because he doesnt keep it in the shop. He later constructed a fence with
some burnt roofing sheets so that we can have a compound, but we still sleep in the open, she laments.
Mrs. Yetunde Oseni, a mother of eight who lost a two-bedroom apartment, a church building and a shop, also
speaks with this reporter.
Since last week Wednesday, we have not been able to cook. We buy food from hawkers when we are hungry.
We cannot take our bath during the day but have to wait till evening when everywhere is dark.
Government should give us amenities
The secretary of the community association explains the steps they have taken so far to get the attention of
their local government, and other government authorities.
He says, On Friday April 4, we submitted a letter to the Lagos Mainland Local Government office, and we are
still expecting their response. But so far, we have not got any visitation, official statement or relief materials
from any government quarters, he says.
Also, the chairman of the association, Mr. Rasheed Lamidi, pleads with government to give the community
basic amenities such as good roads and water.
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We know that this is a low-cost housing community which we founded for ourselves for as long as 25 years
ago. But we need the state government to assist our people to get over this disaster. It is true that some have
left but many others dont have a place to go. If these amenities were in place, the fire disaster probably
wouldnt have had such paralysing effects, the chairman explains.
Agbodemu further sheds light on why government should rise to the help of residents.
Although we are all low-income earners, we are well registered with the Lagos State government. Our CDA
was registered under the Ministry of Rural Development and Infrastructure in 2008, and the association is also
a member of Lagos State Marginalised Community Forum.
We do meet every month in the local government and I am the general secretary of the forum, where we
coordinate 42 such communities in Lagos State. I believe government needs to urgently give us basic
amenities such as electrification, good roads and ensure utmost protection for our people.
He adds that many of the people have lost confidence in governments assistance because of the terrible
conditions they had to endure when such a fire disaster happened in the community in 2010.
It is learnt that a fire incident like the April 2 episode sacked Ifesowapo Community on Saturday, February 27,
2010. Then, all efforts by the residents to get government attention had proved abortive.
An eyewitness, Alhaji Taiwo Olorunlagba, who got to the community 32 years ago, recounts the 2010 incident.
When it happened on that Saturday, we lost all our houses and we were sleeping in the open. Some days
later, the community mobilised and sent letters to the Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties, and the Lagos
State Emergency Management Agency.
Truly, they sent officials to inspect the extent of destruction. They even took photographs of the remains of the
fire. But after the visit, the video clips and photographs, nothing happened, Olorunlagba explains.
Sleeping in the open for eight months
Agbodemu adds that when residents waited endlessly for governments intervention, and none came, they had
no option but to start rebuilding after several months in the open.
We waited for state intervention for about eight months but didnt get any. We were also asked to hold on the
reconstruction as assistance was coming from the state. We wrote letters to the local government office then,
which were not answered.
It is gathered that what Ifeosowapo community would then see was the marking of their structures for
demolition by some officials who claimed to have come from the government. With no alternatives provided for
them, the residents therefore took the case to court, and it was heard at the Lagos State Magistrate Court,
Igbosere, Lagos Island.
At the court, the government was restrained, and told that our buildings could not be demolished without the
peoples consent. But we had already suffered for eight months without any shelter, Agbodemu notes.
Community school lost to fire disaster
As part of efforts to revive the community after the 2010 fire outbreak, residents decided to found a primary
school and it began in the premises of the secretarys house. The school was named Young Leaders Academy
and it grew to a population of 90 pupils over the years.
It also had an evening class of about 65 pupils from other schools. The community employed four teachers
who are holders of the National Council on Education certificate, and was paying their salaries monthly.
However, when the school could be said to be at its peak of performance, the April 2 fire incident brought it
down to ashes, displacing the booming school population.
Agbodemu says the school was a lifeline for the community children.
Initially, what brought up this community effort was that we reasoned among ourselves: how could we be
existing for over 20 years without a school for our children? Unfortunately, there were no public schools in our
area. So, most of our children had nowhere to go.
When we started in 2010, some NGOs came and assisted the school by giving us textbooks, notebooks and
other writing materials. The school also had a computer laboratory, library and after-school lessons, because
people saw what we were doing and were pouring in donations. Sadly, we lost the entire school building to the
April 2 fire incident, he concludes on a sober note.
The school proprietress, Mrs. Abimbola Olarenwaju, confirms that the school population has reduced
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drastically as most families have been displaced by the inferno.
A visit to the school on Friday afternoon reveals that the few pupils present learnt in a makeshift classroom with
no sitting and writing facilities.
We will try our best to reconstruct the classrooms, but we need urgent assistance from government and kind
members of the public, as these children must not stop coming to school, she pleads.
People should not live in shanties Govt
The Lagos State Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi, says the ministry has yet to
receive a formal letter from the affected community. According to him, due assistance will be rendered to them
when such is done.
The ministry will lend necessary support when we receive a formal letter from them. But actually, this case is
under the purview of the Ministry of Special Duties, he says in a telephone conversation.
Also, the General Manager of Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, an agency of the Ministry of
Special Duties, Dr. Oke Osanyintolu, explains that as much as government sympathises with the community,
there is need to ensure that people do not erect shanties which are vulnerable to fire disasters.
We were on ground when the incident occurred, and I am fully aware of it. We are having the enumeration
exercise at present to see what government can do for them to ameliorate the effects of this disaster.
Inasmuch as we sympathise with them, we must put measures in place to make sure such things dont
reoccur. People need to live fine, and a way to live fine is for us not to erect shanties, he says in an interview.
Osanyintolu adds that the community does not need to write letters before the authority will respond to their
needs. He, however, notes that erection of shanties by people is a major challenge for the Lagos State
Government.
Our problem is that such houses are shanties, and these people are living in slums. You and I know that this is
improper in a proposed mega city such as Lagos. There are low-cost housing schemes in Agbowa, in Ikorodu
and other areas. So, this is our concern, he concludes.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
Contact: editor@punchng.com
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8/29/2014 Thousands displaced as fire guts Lagos slum
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The razed slum
Thousands displaced as fire guts Lagos slum
APRIL 3, 2014 BY ENIOLA AKINKUOTU
No fewer than 5,000 people were rendered
homeless on Wednesday after a fire razed
hundreds of shanties in the Ebute Meta
area of Lagos State.
Our correspondent, who visited the area,
learnt that the fire started around 2am and
lasted for about three hours.
Victims told PUNCH Metro that the source
of the fire could not be ascertained, but said
they suspected that the fire emanated from
a lit candle.
It was learnt that due to the nature of the
materials used in constructing the shacks,
the fire spread rapidly.
A woman in her 70s, Mrs. Rabiatu Alamayo, who has been living in the community for over six years, said she
had nowhere to go.
She said, I did not even have time to salvage any of my things, I just ran out. I used to live here with one of my
children until he died.
I have been living alone ever since. I have nowhere else to go to and the little I had is gone.
The residents, who were seen attempting to salvage some of their belongings from the debris, told our
correspondent that this was the third time the area would be consumed by fire in the past 10 years.
The Secretary, Ifesowapo Community Development Association, Ishola Agbodemu, said a school built by the
community was also razed by the fire.
Agbodemu blamed the government for not providing affordable housing for the people.
Agbodemu, who is also the General Secretary, Lagos State Marginalised Communities Forum, said the only
thing the state government had done for the community was to attempt to evict them.
He said, It is not the wish of any sane person to live in a slum. But because we dont have good government in
this country; over 7,000 people lare now living here. The government has refused to provide affordable housing
for the common man.
We built this community and it has been in existence for over 25 years. However, the state government had
tried to evict us. It was not until an Igbosere High Court stopped the government that it left us alone.
We have been trying to better our lives and that is why we built our own schools. Unfortunately, a school was
completely razed and 90 pupils have been affected.
The chairman of the CDA, Rasheed Laimid, told our correspondent hat no life was lost in the incident.
He said, When I saw the fire, I fainted because I knew the implication of the losses. Some residents were able
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Exhibit C2
8/29/2014 Thousands displaced as fire guts Lagos slum
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to call the fire service. When the operatives arrived, they said there was no water and could not access the
place. After a while, however, we joined hands in putting out the fire.
A school proprietor at the slum, Mrs. Abimbola Olanrewaju, said although her school was partially affected, she
had to tear the structure down because it had become weak.
She said 85 pupils of her school had been relocated to makeshift classrooms where they were receiving
lectures.
When our correspondent left the area, smoke was still billowing from the rubble.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published,
broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.
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Lagos state government in action.
Omotolaaraujo
When 5,000 people are left homeless from fire, the state and the FG are responsible to provide aid and
shelter for them.
media-17
No soul recorded. If and then, RIP
celtics1
This is tinubus handiwork. Burn it down buy the land build an hotel.
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8/29/2014 Residents lose all in midnight fire | The Nation
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Home News Residents lose all in midnight fire
Residents lose all in midnight fire
Posted by: Our Reporter in News April 3, 2014
Hundreds of dwellers at the Otto-Ilogbo extension of Ifesowapo community in Ebute-Metta on Lagos
Mainland were rendered homeless by an early morning inferno yesterday.
Although no life was lost, over 50 wooden houses were razed with property worth millions of naira
destroyed.
The residents said a housewife lit a candle overnight which burnt her wooden apartment and spread to
other houses.
Some of the affected residents wept uncontrollably at the sight of what was left of their homes by the fire.
The chairman of the community, Mr Musbau Agbodimu, said: I was not at home when the fire started. I
was busy monitoring our members who were providing security in the community. About 2.30am, I got a
call that fire was raging in the community. I rushed back home, but the inferno was too much. We started
making efforts to quench the fire. I made a call to the Fire Service men but before they arrived, the houses
have been razed. More than 18 landlords were affected.
The only school in the community was burnt. More than 90 pupils cannot go to school now. We spent over
a million naira to get the school started, but everything has been destroyed.
Tagged with: MIDNIGHT FIRE
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Exhibit C3
8/29/2014 Who is afraid of Comrade Musbau Agbodemu? | National Mirror
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Who is afraid of Comrade Musbau
Agbodemu?
by SEGUN ADIO on Apr 26, 2014 | No comments
Posted under: Living, ONLINE X-tra
Musbau Agbodemu, has for many years offered succour to residents of the slum community known
as Ifesowapo/Otto in Lagos Mainland Council Area, articulating their issues and even building a
school for their children. But it is Agbodemu who now needs succour. His apartment was razed to
the ground and he was seized and beaten to within an inch of his life, all for serving his people
These are not the best of times for Comrade Ishola Musbau Agbodemu, the chairman of
Ifesowapo/Otto- community in Lagos Mainland council area. The community leader was among the
dozens of breadwinners, who lost nearly all their lifes savings and property to a weird inferno,
which gutted the community on April 2, 2014.
While still in shock over the losses from the fire incident, which include a five classrooms block
where indigent children in the community attend classes at no costs to their parents, Comrade
Agbodemu again suffered a cruel fate as he narrowly escaped an alleged kidnap attempt by
suspected agents of a traditional ruler in the neighbourhood. That was not all. Saturday Mirror
learnt that Comrade Agbodemu also reportedly lost N100, 000 as he tried to escape the
kidnappers. The N100, 000, according to him, was meant to serve as advance payment for a cow he
claimed was to be used for his mothers final burial ceremony early next month. The community
leaders latest travails, it was learnt, was traced to the inferno that rendered he and many others,
homeless. Comrade Agbodemu , who had bruises all over his body as a result of the latest assault
and kidnap attempt on him, also maintained that his major undoing was trying to provide children
of the less-privileged opportunity for education which their downtrodden parents could not afford
for them.
A day after the fire razed our community including the school I built for the children and my own
three-bedroom apartment, the Divisional Police Officer claimed that he had instructions from the
royal father that we should not be allowed to reconstruct our burnt houses, as well as the school.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO) sent for me and when I got to his office, the Deputy Crime
Officer (DCO), one Prince whom I know to be Jibola and one Engineer Femi, told me that the
traditional ruler asked that we should not rebuild our homes again. That was when the inferno
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Exhibit C4
Exhibit D. Photographs taken by Mr. Agbodemu of his demolished properties

Exhibit E


RASHI DI LI AMEED
MORUFU AFOLABI
SAMSON I SHOLA
MARI AM I SHOLA
I BRAHI M I SHOLA

V.


WITNESS STATEMENT OF MR. RASHIDI LIAMEED
I, Rashidi Liameed, Nigerian, Muslim, Male, printer, of the area known as Otto Ilogbo Extension in
Ebute Metta, Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Lagos State, do hereby state as follows:

1. That I am the second complainant in this matter, a resident of the area known as Otto Ilogbo
Extension, and the Chairman of the Ifesowapo Otto Ilogbo Extension Community
Development Association since 2013.
3. That around 2am on 2 April 2014, there was a terrible fire in our community at Otto Ilogbo
Extension that destroyed the properties of about 35 landlords. I was lucky that my structure
was spared, but I have seen the suffering of so many neighbors over the last month. It is
particularly unfortunate that they have been blocked from rebuilding the homes, businesses
and community facilities that were burned.
4. That on 22 April 2014, I was at my home and sick. However, when I heard that there was a
commotion in the community, I came out to see what was happening.
5. That when I arrived at the compound of Mr. Agbodemu Ishola Musbau, I saw Chief
Dosunmu sitting on a chair and smoking. I greeted him, but he did not answer, and I saw the
owner of the house, Mr. Agbodemu, standing and filming as boys demolished the structure
he had just starting to build to replace the community school that had burnt down. The Chief
just sat and watched as the men demolished.
6. That I saw Chief Dosunmu make a call and shortly after new boys arrived armed with
cutlasses, bottles, etc. These boys tried to take Mr. Agbodemu away, and he began to
struggle. Our boys intervened and tried to prevent the other area boys from carrying Mr.
Agbodemu out of the compound. This allowed Mr. Agbodemu to escape and he ran away.
7. That after Mr. Agbodemu escaped, I stayed and I asked the area boys why they were
destroying the structure. They said we should not build the houses again. I tried to explain
that we had had two very big rainfalls, and the people who were stuck in the open were in a
bad place. After the fire, the District Police Officer (DPO) at Iponri Police Station had asked
the community to give the King of Oloto a week to arrange something, but it had been
many weeks. I explained that the King would not meet us. This made no difference to them.
8. That shortly thereafter, the police arrived. They immediately started attacking the young
men from our community and defending the area boys.
9. That Mr. Morufu Afolabi from Otto Ilogbo Extension community was struck by one area boy
and tried to defend himself, and was arrested by the police for this.
10. That I went with the police, Mr. Afolabi, and Chief Dosunmu to the Iponri Police Station,
where I found several people including the DCO and Mr. Agbodemu. Chief Dosunmu
accused me of being part of what had just occurred and I had to write what I had seen.
11. That after writing my statement the DCO ordered that Mr. Agbodemu, Mr. Afolabi and I be
detained and kept over night. I was not aware of any reason they had to detain me.
12. That the next day, the DCO took us in a police vehicle to meet with the Chiefs of Oloto
again and to go see the King. I asked why I had been arrested, but was ignored.
13. That I agreed with Mr. Agbodemu not to be bailed out, as we had been wrongfully
detained. It was not until the evening of 23 April that we were released.
14. That I am aware of threats against Mr. Agbodemu, and believe that he is not safe to return
to rebuild his home and school in Otto Ilogbo Extension.

DEPONENT



RASHI DI LI AMEED
MORUFU AFOLABI
SAMSON I SHOLA
MARI AM I SHOLA
I BRAHI M I SHOLA

V.


WITNESS STATEMENT OF MR. RASHIDI LIAMEED
I, Rashidi Liameed, Nigerian, Muslim, Male, printer, of the area known as Otto Ilogbo Extension in
Ebute Metta, Lagos Mainland Local Government Area, Lagos State, do hereby state as follows:

1. That I am the second complainant in this matter, a resident of the area known as Otto Ilogbo
Extension, and the Chairman of the Ifesowapo Otto Ilogbo Extension Community
Development Association since 2013.
3. That around 2am on 2 April 2014, there was a terrible fire in our community at Otto Ilogbo
Extension that destroyed the properties of about 35 landlords. I was lucky that my structure
was spared, but I have seen the suffering of so many neighbors over the last month. It is
particularly unfortunate that they have been blocked from rebuilding the homes, businesses
and community facilities that were burned.
4. That on 22 April 2014, I was at my home and sick. However, when I heard that there was a
commotion in the community, I came out to see what was happening.
5. That when I arrived at the compound of Mr. Agbodemu Ishola Musbau, I saw Chief
Dosunmu sitting on a chair and smoking. I greeted him, but he did not answer, and I saw the
owner of the house, Mr. Agbodemu, standing and filming as boys demolished the structure
he had just starting to build to replace the community school that had burnt down. The Chief
just sat and watched as the men demolished.
6. That I saw Chief Dosunmu make a call and shortly after new boys arrived armed with
cutlasses, bottles, etc. These boys tried to take Mr. Agbodemu away, and he began to
struggle. Our boys intervened and tried to prevent the other area boys from carrying Mr.
Agbodemu out of the compound. This allowed Mr. Agbodemu to escape and he ran away.
7. That after Mr. Agbodemu escaped, I stayed and I asked the area boys why they were
destroying the structure. They said we should not build the houses again. I tried to explain
that we had had two very big rainfalls, and the people who were stuck in the open were in a
bad place. After the fire, the District Police Officer (DPO) at Iponri Police Station had asked
the community to give the King of Oloto a week to arrange something, but it had been
many weeks. I explained that the King would not meet us. This made no difference to them.
8. That shortly thereafter, the police arrived. They immediately started attacking the young
men from our community and defending the area boys.
9. That Mr. Morufu Afolabi from Otto Ilogbo Extension community was struck by one area boy
and tried to defend himself, and was arrested by the police for this.
10. That I went with the police, Mr. Afolabi, and Chief Dosunmu to the Iponri Police Station,
where I found several people including the DCO and Mr. Agbodemu. Chief Dosunmu
accused me of being part of what had just occurred and I had to write what I had seen.
11. That after writing my statement the DCO ordered that Mr. Agbodemu, Mr. Afolabi and I be
detained and kept over night. I was not aware of any reason they had to detain me.
12. That the next day, the DCO took us in a police vehicle to meet with the Chiefs of Oloto
again and to go see the King. I asked why I had been arrested, but was ignored.
13. That I agreed with Mr. Agbodemu not to be bailed out, as we had been wrongfully
detained. It was not until the evening of 23 April that we were released.
14. That I am aware of threats against Mr. Agbodemu, and believe that he is not safe to return
to rebuild his home and school in Otto Ilogbo Extension.

DEPONENT

Agbodemu & Ors v. Oloto & Ors. - Complaint To NHRC - Submitted May 8 2014

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