Renowned estate consultant and developer, Alhaji Mutairu Owoeye, has denied allegations of land grabbing levelled against him by a section of a community in Ogun State.
Bode Adeaga, Mr. Okodua, Mr. Ikeanabi and members of Odeda Community Area Community Development Committee (CDC) had in a petition written to the Ogun State House of Assembly, alleged that Owoeye trespassed on their land located at Obadaoko area, Abeokuta, Ogun State.
However, appearing before the Assembly, through his lawyer, Owoeye informed the lawmakers that the allegations were made to smear his credibility, and to drag his name in the mud.
While absolving himself from the allegation, the estate consultant presented to the lawmakers documents showing that he genuinely bought the disputed land from Lasabi Openifa family, who are the original owners of the land.
He told the House that the accusations of being a land grabber levelled against him was malicious and fictitious.
Owoeye told the lawmakers: “There is no iota of truth in the allegation made against me. It is a mere misrepresentation of facts calculated to tarnish my image by mischief makers.
“For the avoidance of doubt and to set the record straight, I bought the land in question directly from the rightful family, the Lasabi Openifa family. They are the original owners of the land. I did not encroach on the land as falsely alleged.”
Owoeye also denied allegations that he caused chaos, destroyed the properties of residents, and illegally evicted them from the land.
He said: “I am a law abiding citizen, and will not take something that does not belong to me. If certain persons are aggrieved, they should go to court, and present their case for adjudication, rather than spreading false and malicious allegations against me.
“Also, I want to assure you, the honourable members, that I am not in any way involved in land-grabbing, and I was not hired to invade any community with firearms or whatsoever or displace anybody to gain access to their farmland.
“I bought the land in question from the rightful family, all the family members, including the heads of the family appended their signatures to the receipts given to me as evidence of payment, and I was issued with the family’s receipt.
The allegations are false, spurious and preposterous.”
Owoeye, however, commended the lawmakers for their quest to unravel the truth, which he said, would help address the dispute.