By Adeleye Kunle
THE Lagos State Government and House of Assembly have expressed their displeasure with Oba Lateef Adams, Onikate of Ikate, Surulere, Lagos, for refusing to vacate his business office at No. 66, Allen Avenue following the state government’s directive.
The team, led by Mr. Victor Akande, Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions, and LASIEC, Mr. Folami Aina, Director, Chieftaincy Affairs, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, and Mr. Owolabi Arole, Coordinator of Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, described Oba Lateef Adams’ refusal to honor the state’s directive on a concluded matter as an abuse of office and
During an on-site visit to the property in question, Akande stated that the Family of Theophilus Mabayoje Banjo, the landlord of the property at 66 Allene Avenue, approached the House over the refusal of their tenant, Oba Lateef Adams, trading as Latris Fashion, to vacate the premises following the court’s decision.
“They brought the case to the House, and after deliberation between the lawyers representing both parties, we agreed that Oba Lateef Adams under the name Latris Fashion should vacate the building completely by the end of June 2022, and begin gradual payment of the outstanding debts on the property,” Akande said.
“To our surprise, we discovered that the man in question is still occupying the building today during our oversight visit to the property.” This is a depressing development. The fact that he is King is no excuse for disregarding the rule of law.
“As King, you are expected to be a good ambassador and role model for your subjects to follow. What do you expect from your subjects if you don’t respect constituted authority as a ruler?”
When the committee chairman called Oba Lateef Adams, he expressed his displeasure with how the House of Assembly members treated him, saying they had no regard for his office.
He then threatened to sue the Chairman of the House Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights, Public Petitions, and LASIEC for the manner in which he spoke to him on the phone in the presence of his landlord.
“I know what I can do,” he said, “but I want us to settle it amicably.” We are all aware that the House of Assembly is not a court. So I know what I’m capable of. Another thing is that because I am an Oba, the House Committee Chairman was not supposed to talk to me on the phone in that manner. He is disrespectful to me.
“I could even sue the House for insulting me as an Oba.” They are also becoming biased, with the House siding with the landlord. I know what I can do, what my rights are, and I can even sue him. “I’ll take him up myself.”
Mrs. Abiola Paul-Ozieh (Nee Banjo), one of the Administrators of the Estate of Theophilus Mabayoje Banjo, the property’s landlord, explained that about four years ago, Oba Lateef Adams sued them in court to stop further increases in the rent of the property, as he could not pay higher rent than the amount he was paying at the time.
“We appeared in court for about a year, and the court ruled that because he had not been paying his rent, he did not have a case because there was no landlord-tenant relationship between us.” Following that, we went to court to recover the property from him because he was occupying both the ground and first floors.
She went on to say that this prompted the landlord to approach the Lagos State Government and the House of Assembly about the matter, and that after the intervention of the Committee, which included our lawyer and Oba Lateef, they resolved that he should vacate the premises by the end of June and begin the payment of the outstanding debts on the property, but that he is still occupying the building.
LASG and Onikate of Ikate clash over eviction notice appeared first on Track News.
