10 chiefs deposed over landed property

Not less than ten (10) chiefs were sacked by the Olu of Orile Ilawo, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Oba Alexander MacGregor, for allegedly selling the community land of about 1600 acres.

The landed property which located at Alagbagba and other communities in Odeda Local Government Area of the state were illegally sold by the desposed chiefs.

According to reports, those sacked were the Oluwo of Ilawo, Chief Oluwole Dosunmu, Balogun of Ilawo, Chief Abraham Soyoye, Jagunna of Ilawo, Fatai Sodimu and seven others.

Oba MacGregor who was flanked by some chiefs disclosed this at a press briefing held in his palace, on Saturday.

The royal father said the affected chiefs have continued to go against his authority.

Oba MacGregor alleged that the chiefs have sold not less than 1,600 acres of land without his authority, adding that the Osile of Oke Ona cannot continue to be the prescribed authority for Ilawo because Ilawo has a king.

_____He has therefore warned the deposed chiefs to stop parading themselves as Oluwo, Balogun and Jagunna of Ilawo because they have not been recognized by the Olu of Orile Ilawo.

Oba Macgregor said the actions of the sacked chiefs negated the Omoluabi ethos that Ilawo is known for and he cannot fold his arms and allow the names of the good people of the community be dragged into the mud for land grabbing.

_____While speaking on behalf of the sacked chiefs, the Oluwo of Ilawo, Chief Oluwole Dosunmu, said none of them committed a crime, stating that they had the approval the community.

The 80-year-old community leader said they heard about the allegation against them on radio and newspaper, saying there was no official communication from the royal father.

According to him; “We have not done any wrong and whatever we have done is by the community. We have our certificates as recognised chiefs from the Osile of Oke Ona Egba, Oba (Dr) Adedapo Tejuoso.”

____“We are even surprised that it was on the radio that we heard that we have sold land at Alagbagba village. We have not seen any letter on this allegation.”(Punch)