Businessman threatens legal action over disputed property
An Ibadan based businessman, Dapo Davies, has through his lawyer, Kehinde Olawumi Esq, warned both King Zion Ventures and Bolarinwa Lawal of Olajumoke Chambers Ibadan to desist from further abuse of his right as well as court proceedings or face contempt of court.
He has also threatened to report Barrister Bolarinwa Lawal to the Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, Abuja, for unprofessional conduct and abuse of profession.
Speaking with journalists, Davies’ lawyer, Barrister Olawumi, said the warning is as a result of seven days quit notice arbitrarily issued by Bolarinwa Lawal (Esq) from Olajumoke Chambers on July 28, 2017 to all the occupants including Mr. Dapo Davies, at a disputed property, located at No. 1, Lebanon Street, Dugbe Alawo, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
It would be recalled that on August 15, 2006, Pastor Peter Asha, owner of King Zion Ventures, allegedly sought the assistance of the late strongman of Ibadan politics, Alhaji Lamidi Adedibu, to forcefully eject the occupants of the said property in dispute.
It was also alleged that Pastor Asha, Sola Oyin-Adejobi and Mojeed Alabi, a.k.a Yellow, led thugs to the shop of Dapo Davies on the instruction of Late Adedibu where they assaulted Dapo Davies and Shola Ladipo.
Several invitation letters were sent to the Late Adedibu then by Oyo State Commissioner of Police over the said alleged attack.
Until Adedibu’s demise on June 1, 2008, Pastor Asha, Sola Oyin-Adejobi, Mojeed Alabi, a.k.a Yellow, who is personal body guard of late Adedibu were facing attempted murder, illegal destruction and robbery on Dapo Davies and others.
Following the fresh resuscitation of the dispute, Olawumi in a letter dated August 1, 2017 and addressed to Bolarinwa Lawal (Esq), stated that “it is on record that our client is a Sub-Lessee of Pelumi Foluwasho Ojo who derived his interest on the property via subsisting lease from Ibadan North West Local Government, Ibadan, Oyo State. And our client has never been a tenant to your so called King Zion Ventures & company even for a day in the said property.
“It is also on record that the issues of who has a valid lease in respect of the property in question is subject of litigation in several suit filed at the Oyo State High Court of Justice, Ibadan. Among are Suit No. I/297/2004 between Pelumi Foluwasho Ojo vs King Zion Ventures Nig Ltd & 4 others in court 17, and Suit No. I/160/2003 between Mr. Dapo Davies (Trading under name & style of Arilad Stores) & 2 others vs UACN Property Development Co, Plc & 2 others, and Pelumi Foluwasho Ojo vs King Zion Ventures & Co Nig. Ltd & 3 others”.
Olawumi disclosed that despite the fact that Justice M. A. Adegbola of High Court, Ibadan Judicial Division dismissed the application filed by Pastor Peter Asha of King Zion Ventures praying the court to appoint a receiver manager for a property in dispute, located at No. 1, Lebanon street, Dugbe Alawo, Ibadan, Pastor Asha still went ahead to issue illegal quit notice to the occupiers of the property.
He said there are several cases on the disputed property that are still pending at various courts which stated that status quo should be maintained until the determination of the rightful ownership.
He further said that also, in a consolidated ruling on these pending cases, Justice M. A. Adegbola of Court No. 9, Oyo State High Court, Ibadan Judicial in his ruling on September 7, 2016, stated that, “with regards to relief 2, it is clear that the legal title or interest in the property in dispute is what is submitted for determination on this case between the applicants and the respondents.
Olawumi said but contrary to the ruling, on July 28, 2017, Bolarinwa Lawal from Olajumoke Chambers on the instruction of King Zion Ventures issued a seven – day quit notice to all the occupants including Mr. Dapo Davies in the said property in dispute.
In a swift response, Kehinde Olawumi law firm, solicitor to Dapo Davies, warned both King Zion Ventures and Bolarinwa Lawal of Olajumoke Chambers to desist from further abuse of court ruling or else face contempt of court while Bolarinwa may face Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Committee, Abuja, for unprofessional conduct and abuse of profession.
