By Stephen Simon
A traditional ruler in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Chief Sunday Ayodele Ogunsami, the Baale of Imowo-Nla, and three other principal members of the Ifegbuwa Chieftaincy Family have approached an Ikorodu Magistrates’ Court seeking protection against alleged threats, harassment and violent activities in the community.
The applicants, who are members of the Ifegbuwa Chieftaincy Family of Imowo-Nla, are seeking orders compelling five defendants to enter into a recognisance, with or without sureties, to keep the peace for a period of 12 months.
The suit, marked MKD/1269/CIV/2026, was filed by the applicants through their counsel, Chief A. G. Giwa-Amu.
The applicants are also asking the court to restrain the defendants, their agents, servants and associates from allegedly threatening, assaulting, harassing, molesting or victimising them.
In an affidavit sworn to by Chief Ogunsami, the Baale alleged that the defendants had recruited and stationed what he described as “thugs, hoodlums and dare-devil miscreants” in Imowo-Nla, allegedly creating fear and threatening the peace of the community.
Chief Ogunsami stated that he was selected as Baale Designate by the Ifegbuwa Chieftaincy Family in 2021, adding that the selection was communicated to relevant traditional institutions and government authorities.
He further stated that he was subsequently crowned and installed as Baale by the Ayangbure of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Adewale Shotobi, and the Ayangbure-in-Council.
According to him, tension in the community escalated in May 2026 when the defendants allegedly invaded properties in the area and used force to dispossess occupants.
The applicant further alleged that the defendants had been involved in a series of threats and violent activities connected with land in the community.
He also alleged that an Assistant Director in the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, Mr Giwa Shakiru, and members of his family were attacked in connection with the dispute.
Chief Ogunsami said complaints had been made to the police and other relevant authorities, including the Lagos State Task Force on Land Grabbers, but alleged that the situation had continued despite the complaints.
He therefore urged the court to bind the defendants over to keep the peace, arguing that such an order was necessary to protect the applicants and restore peace and tranquillity to Imowo-Nla.
Meanwhile, affidavits have also been filed in the matter in which some of the parties undertook to maintain peace with the applicants and within the community.
In one of the affidavits, Chief Musibau Olamilekan Oladipupo, a resident of Ikorodu, stated that two of the persons named in the proceedings were his brothers.
Oladipupo further undertook that the two men would not enter certain property identified as belonging to Chief Kamorudeen Lamina, also known as Sir K. Oluwo, on Ifegbuwa Family land at Imowo-Nla without proper authority.
He also stated that they would not enter other land belonging to the Ifegbuwa Family without prior permission from the family, interfere with the family’s affairs or engage in violent activities on its land.
The affidavit further contained an undertaking that the two men would not invite members of secret cults onto any property belonging to the Ifegbuwa Family.
Oladipupo said the undertaking was made for record and official purposes and as part of efforts to maintain peace in the community.
The dispute appears to centre largely on traditional leadership and land-related issues involving members of the Ifegbuwa Chieftaincy Family.
The applicants are asking the court to intervene through a peace-binding order as tensions over the disputed properties and community affairs continue.
