- Family file suit in Ilorin Court
The Kwara State Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has advised Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq to respect the rule of law and stop all actions that can lead to breakdown of law and order.
In a statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Tunde Ashaolu, the party, while responding to the early morning deployment of policemen to the Ilofa Road GRA property belonging to late Dr. Abubakar Olusola Saraki whose title the Kwara State Governor last weekend said he revoked, also called on the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Mohammed Adamu, to ensure that the police were not used to foment crisis in the state or subvert the on-going court process on the property.
“We noticed that early in the morning today, policemen from the Kwara State Police Command were deployed to take over Plots 1, 3 and 5 Ilofa Road property of late Oloye Olusola Saraki, apparently on the orders of Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
“This action was taken in violation of the rights of the Late Saraki and his heirs to own property and in subversion of the rule of law as we are aware of a court process that has been filed by the Saraki family at the state High Court, Ilorin.
“The process with Suit No KWS / 463 / 2019 between Asa Investments Limited as claimant vs Governor of Kwara State, Kwara State House of Assembly, Attorney General of Kwara State, Director General of the Kwara State Bureau of Lands and the Inspector General of Police had been served on the IGP through the Kwara State Police Command and also the Attorney General of the State.
“In the suit, the claimant is seeking for a declaration that the revocation/ recovery of Plots 1, 3 and 5 TOS/ MISC 139A situate at Ilofa Road belonging to the Claimant without a proper notice of revocation is unconstitutional and void and that the purported notice of revocation is equally null and void and of no effect in that the said purported Notice was not personally served on the claimant.
“With the matter now before the courts, the Governor should stay all actions on it and wait for the final adjudication on the matter, instead of taking actions that will pre-empt the court decision and render the judicial verdict useless.
“The PDP noted that if not for the grace of God and the maturity of all concern there would have been a clash between the old women who usually congregate on the property in issue for their welfare package and the policemen. The Police withdrew after the women held the ground and refused to be intimidated.
“We call on the IGP to prevent any action that would lead to break down of law and order by insisting that policemen are not used to intimidate innocent people and help in the plot to present the court with a fait accompli. Land matters are civil cases and therefore should not involve the use of armed policemen to intimidate people.
“The State Governor is equally advised to shun actions that amount to abuse of powers, illegality and seek to create tension in the state. The Governor knows that he has not served the necessary statutory notices on the owners of the property and also have to respect the fact that with the filing of the case, the issue of the said land is now subjudice. All parties should respect the institution of the courts and wait for the resolution of the case.
“Kwara people are peace loving people. They are appreciative and supportive of all the contributions of Oloye Saraki whose property is now being threatened by the Revocation order to the development of the state. They do not want anything that will threaten the existing peace in the state. We do not want a repeat of the pre-2003 situation in Kwara State.
“The Governor should promote peace and not take any action that will threaten peace. We in PDP will hold the Governor responsible if any violence is wreaked on any Kwaran”, the party stated.
