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

8/11/2019 Agbodemu & Ors v. Oloto & Ors. - Complaint to NHRC - Submitted May 8 2014

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inform organize empower

Port Harcourt !Lagos !www.justempower.org [email protected]

jeiJUSTICE EMPOWERMENTINITIATIVES NIGERIA7 May 2014

Dr. Bem Angwe, Executive Secretary

National Human Rights Commission19 Aguiyi Ironsi Street

Maitama, Abuja

Federal Capital Territory

Nigeria

FORCED EVICTION DEMOLITION V IOLENCE AND WRONGFUL ARREST

P

ERPETRATED BY THE

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HIEFTAINCY

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ELIEFS

SUBMITTED DURING THE UPCOMING NHRCPUBLIC INQUIRY ON DEMOLITIONS/FORCED

EVICTIONS IN LAGOS,5-8MAY 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 RightsCommission (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 awardof 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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inform org nize empower

Port Harcourt !La os !www. ustem ower.or !info@ustem ower.or

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 IlogboExtension 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 toensure 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. Agbodemusbuildings 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 havingbeen 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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inform organize empower

Port Harcourt !La os !www. ustem ower.or !info@ustem ower.or

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 rebuildor 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

Complainants Service Address

Comrade Musbau Ishola Agbodemu

9 Ondo Street West

Ebute Metta, Lagos

Respondents Service Address

Chief Dosunmu, Lisa of Oloto

(for the Oloto Chieftaincy Family)38 Ogundimu Street

Ebute Metta, Lagos


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FORM 1 Rule...

FIRST SCHEDULE

FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA

NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION OF NIGERIA

COMPLAINT NO ________ OF 2014

COMPLAINANT DATA COLLECTION FORM

1. Complainants Identity

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 Ishola Musbau, Rashidi Liameed, Morufu

Afolabi, Ishola Abosede, Samson Ishola, Mariam Ishola, Ibrahim Ishola

Is victim: (a) A minor or child (yes/no) NB: Samson, Mariam and Ibrahim

Ishola are minor children, represented by their parents,

Musbau Ishola Agbodemu and Ishola 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 Ishola Musbau

c/o Lagos Marginalized Communities Forum LAMCOFOR)

9 Ondo Street West

Ebute Metta, Lagos Mainland

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 Various


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Gender: Male/Female Both

Profession/Occupation: Business Man, Printer, Driver, Trader, Students

Marital Status: Single, Married, Divorced, Widowed, Separated - Various

Nationality: Nigerian

State of Domicile in Nigeria: Lagos State

Local Government of Domicile: Lagos Mainland LGA

Physical or Street Address: Otto Ilogbo Extension Community

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: Justice Empowerment Initiatives (JEI)

If an Organisation, indicate name and numbers of contact person:

Megan Chapman, Co-Director, [email protected], 08187196021

Name of Respondent: Chief Dosunmu Oloto, Lisa Oloto of Otto

Lukmon Dosunmu Oloto

Babatunde Odesanya Oloto

And Others (Unknown)

ASP Adegoke, Iponri Police Station Divisional

Crime Officer (former), Nigerian Police Force

Contact Address of Respondent:

Chief Dosunmu Oloto, Lisa Oloto of Otto


38 Ogundimu Street

Otto Central Community

Ebute Metta, Lagos


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2 Palace Road


Ebute Metta, Lagos

ASP Adegoke, Iponri Police Station Divisional Crime Officer (former)

Nigerian Police Force

Lagos State Command

Telephone Numbers of Respondent: Unknown

2. Incident or Allegations of Violations

Date/Time/Month/Year: 22 April 2014 and continuing

Place/Location: Otto Ilogbo Extension Community

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 eviction, destruction and looting of property, attempted

abduction, assault, false accusation and unlawful detention

(Attach signed statement of witness if possible) See attached

3. Particulars of Violation

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.)

Retaliation and intimidation (see witness statement for details)

4. Particulars of Persons or Institutions Complained Against

Name Chief Dosunmu Oloto, Lisa Oloto of Otto



ASP Adegoke, Iponri Police Station Divisional Crime Officer


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Individual(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:

Chief Dosunmu Oloto, Lisa Oloto of Otto


38 Ogundimu Street


Ebute Metta, Lagos


2 Palace Road


Ebute Metta, Lagos



Lagos State Command

Telephone Numbers: Unknown

5. Supporting Evidence

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 following exhibits attached and

marked:

-

Exhibit A1-3. Certificate of Registration and 2 Election Certificates for the

Ifesowapo Otto Ilogbo Area Community Development Association

-

Exhibit B. 2010 letter to Governor Fashola regarding suspected arson by

Oloto Chieftaincy Family in Otto Ilogbo Extension.

- Exhibit C1-C5. Copies of articles regarding the 2 April 2014 file in Otto


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Ilogbo Extension and subsequent incidents.

-

Exhibit D. Photographs taken by Mr. Agbodemu of his partially

reconstructed-then-demolished structure.

-

Exhibit E. Receipt from First Bank dated 22 April 2014 for N100,000.

6. Witness Details

Indicate if there were any witnesses to (any aspects of) the violations. If yes, please

indicate:

First Witness

. (a) Name: Agbodemu Ishola Musbau

.

(b) Age: 44

.

(c) Occupation: Businessman

. (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 threatening the witness and his family

members ever since the violation occurred. See witness statement

for details.

Second Witness

.

(a) Name: Dr. Adeolu Olusodo

.

(b) Age: 40

. (c) Occupation: Medical Director, STARS Clinic

.

(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? Since he is a

resident of the area under the influence of the Oloto Chieftaincy

Family, the Respondents may trace him due to his solidarity and

support to the victims and his statements against them


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7. Remedies Sought

Indicate the kind of remedies, if any, that you seek from the Commission:

1.

Order of interim injunction against the Respondents restraining

them, their agents and privies from further harassment,

destruction and looting of property, physical violence, or false

accusation against the Complainants and against interference

with the operation of Young Leaders Academy.

2. Order of permanent injunction against the Respondents

restraining them, their agents and privies from further

harassment, destruction and looting of property, physical

violence, or false accusation against the Complainants and

against interference with the operation of Young Leaders

Academy.

3.

Order of permanent injunction restraining the Respondents from

interfering with the peace and security of Otto Ilogbo Extension

Community.

4.

Order of mandatory injunction for the Respondents to rebuilt the

wrongfully demolished structure belonging to the Complainants

and return all the looted property, including the stolen

N100,000.

5.

Order of compensation for the rights violations suffered in the

sum of N5 mill ion for the Ishola family, N5 mill ion for Mr. Rashidi

Liameed, and N5 mill ion for Mr. Morufu Afolabi.

8. Previous 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 Complainants attempted to enter a complaint against the

Respondents at the Iponri Police Station, E bute Metta Lagos, on 22

April 2014, whereupon the Complainants were unlawfully detained for

a period of 24 hours.

After his release and discovering the further loo ting of his properties

in Otto Ilogbo Extension Community, Mr. Agbodemu again visited


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Iponri Police Station on 27 A pril 2014 to put another complaint before

the Divisional Police Officer Kunle Adesokan. To date, no further

action has been taken. See witness statements for additional details.

9. Declaration

(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 nameor 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. Details of Attending Officer

Name:

Position:

Signature:

Location:

Date:


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FOR OFFICIAL PURPOSES

11. Assessment (by officer of the Commission)

(Briefly state the assessment of the Secretariat):

12. Preliminary Recommendation:

Admissible Inadmissible


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NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

COMPLAINT NO. ___________

AGBODEMU ISHOLA MUSBAU

RASHIDI LIAMEED

MORUFU AFOLABI

ISHOLA ABOSEDE COMPLAINANTS

SAMSON ISHOLA

MARIAM ISHOLA

IBRAHIM ISHOLA

V.

CHIEF DOSUNMU OLOTO, LISA OLOTO OF OTTO

LUKMON DOSUNMU OLOTO

BABATUNDE ODESANYA OLOTO RESPONDENTS

ASP ADEGOKE, IPONRI POLICE STATION

DIVISIONAL CRIME OFFICER former)

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 1stComplainant 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


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was elected Secretary. The current CDA Chairman is Mr. Rashidi Liameed. (SeeExhibit 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.

(SeeExhibit 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 sentmembers 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.


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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 notreturn. 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 Mirroron 19 April that reported the harassment. (See ExhibitC1 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.


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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 Exhibit , 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. (SeeExhibit 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.


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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


17/37

Exhibit A1


18/37

Exhibit A2


19/37


20/37

Exhibit B1. Letter to

Lagos State Governor


21/37


22/37

Exhibit B2. Letter of Invitation from

Lagos State Police Command


23/37

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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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 shantiesGovt

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.

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broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH.

Contact: [email protected]

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8/29/2014 Thousands displaced as fire guts Lagos slum

http://www.punchng.com/metro-plus/thousands-displaced-as-fire-guts-lagos-slum/ 2/4

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.

Contact: [email protected]

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Lagos state government in action.

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When 5,000 people are left homeless from fire, the state and the FG are responsible to provide aid and

shelter for them.

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No soul recorded. If and then, RIP

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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

http://thenationonlineng.net/new/residents-lose-midnight-fire/ 1/2

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Midnight fire: Shop ownerscount losses

17 days ago

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


30/37

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 ADIOon 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 communityleaders 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


31/37

Exhibit D. Photographs taken by Mr. Agbodemu of his demolished properties


32/37


33/37

Exhibit E


34/37




RASHIDI LIAMEED

MORUFU AFOLABI


SAMSON ISHOLA

MARIAM ISHOLA

IBRAHIM ISHOLA

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.

2.


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 structurewas 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


35/37

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.

15.



DEPONENT


36/37




RASHIDI LIAMEED

MORUFU AFOLABI


SAMSON ISHOLA

MARIAM ISHOLA

IBRAHIM ISHOLA

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.

2.


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 structurewas 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


37/37

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.

15.



DEPONENT

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

Documents

Transcript of Agbodemu & Ors v. Oloto & Ors. - Complaint to NHRC - Submitted May 8 2014