One of the alleged notorious land grabbers in Lagos, Chief Moroof Owonla, is set to face criminal prosecution as he is said to have been indicted by the police.
Police sources disclosed that a prima facie case of criminal trespass, impersonation, and conduct likely to cause a breach of trust has been established against Moroof Owonla, popularly known as “Kaka”.
One of the sources said that the investigation carried out by the police revealed that the said Moroof Owonla acted lawlessly to have fraudulently sold a landed property belonging to one Hassan Alli for N12 million to a woman and converted the proceed to his personal use.
The police source said that “evidence shows that the Moroof Owonla forcefully gained entrance into a Hotel belonging to one Hassan Alli, where he caused damage to the fence, chased away the workers on site with thugs and subsequently pad-locked the Hotel gate without any justification, since August 5, 2022.
“This is despite that Lagos State High Court, Ikeja has nullified the services/employment of the said Moroof Owonla and ordered that he should not parade himself as agent or accredited representative on behalf of the family of Late Chief Arimiyau Bello Ekundayo.
“The investigation also revealed that the same Owonla, who is the complainant in the matter personally, wrote on the Hotel fence “Certificate of Possession taken- Keep off”, an act that constitutes or contains fragrantly abuse of court processes.”
Moroof Owonla, had in a petition alleged that he was the lawful attorney and accredited representative to the judgment creditor in respect of Suit No. ID/1722/92 delivered on October 29, 2004, by Justice. A. Willams , of the Lagos High Court in favor of the family of Late Chief Arimiyau Bello Ekundayo.
He noted that the judgment was backed up with three Appeal Court orders granted with a Certificate of Warrant of Possession dated May 5, 2008 on behalf of his client.
He stated further that upon the judgment, one Alhaji Hassan Alli criminally conspired with thugs to unleash an attack on him and also invaded his landed properties with forged Title Documents, using the same as genuine documents on behalf of the family of Late A. A. Soremekun and thereby causing pandemonium and to chase him away from the property he legally acquired through a court judgment.
However, contrary to his (Moroof Owonla) claim, the Police report stated that after a painstaking investigation into the case, the following facts have emerged: “The crux of this case borders on a land discord between the complainant, Chief Moroof Owonla, Baale of Cardoso, Ipaja, Lagos State and the suspect Hassan Alli and others and that the disputed land lying and situate at Megida, Alaja, Onikanga Area of Igbo-Ilogbu Ayobo town, measuring approximately 98.802 acres or 39. 985 Hectares, Lagos State delineated on Survey Plan No. OGEK 400/76 dated 11th April 1976 drawn by Surveyor E. A. Akin Ogunbiyi.
“That the complainant claimed to have been employed as agent to the family of Late Chief Arimiyau Bello Ekundayo and issued with Power of Attorney to secure their family land against encumbrance likewise same with the suspect, Hassan Alli employed as agent to a family of Late Mr. A. A Soremekun with issued Power of Attorney to secure the family land against any encumbrance as well.
“The complainant was also said to have presented a purported Court Judgment with Suit No. 1D/1722/92 dated 29th October 2004 delivered by Hon. Mrs. Justice O. A. Williams which he claimed was in favor and that he earlier petitioned AIG, Force CID, Annex Alagbon Lagos, where an investigation was concluded and the arrested suspects were charged to Court but the complainant, Chief Moroof Owonla was at large.
“That having realized the outcome of investigation at Gl Section, Force CID, Alagbon Annex was not favorable, the complainant, Chief Moroof Owonla wrote a counter-petition to Force CID, Abuja against the former IPO, SP Sahab Abubakar for being biased.”
