EKO NEWS
Lagos Govt Intervenes After ‘Land Grabbers’ Claim Lady’s Late Grandfather Willed Home To Mosque
Eko Hot Blog reports that the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers has intervened in the case of Ms. Maria Laguda, a lady who has alleged that some alleged land grabbers are trying to take her grandfather’s property away from her.
In an interview with Linda Ikeji Blog, she said the alleged land grabbers came to her home last Thursday and said she must move out because her grandfather had willed the property to a mosque.
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However, Laguda questioned the validity of such will, accusing the parties of trying to grab her property.
In a statement on Wednesday, the Lagos task force on land grabbers said it has sent its officials to carryout an on-the-spot assessment and invite all concerned parties.
The task force, which said all the parties have received and acknowledged the invitations, reiterated its zero tolerance for the menace of land grabbing in Lagos State.
“The attention of the Office of the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Landgrabbers has been drawn to the above-captioned publication and pursuant to that, this Office has taken a proactive step to look into the issue by sending Officials of Lagos State Special Taskforce on Landgrabbers to carry out on spot assessment and extend invitations to all concerned parties,” the statement reads.
“Pursuant to the core statutory obligations of this Office, Invitations to a meeting have been extended to all concerned parties and they have acknowledged the same.
“The Office of the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Landgrabbers reinstates its core mandate of ensuring the Prohibition of Forceful entry, Illegal Occupation of Landed Properties, Violent and Fraudulent conduct in relation to landed properties in Lagos State.
“The Office has further reiterated its zero tolerance for the menace of land grabbing in Lagos State.”
The property in dispute
Ms. Laguda had cried out for justice that alleged land grabbers invaded the property located on at Sere close in Illupeju, Lagos state, with the intent to take possession of it.
In a written statement, she said she was born out of wedlock 37 years ago and was raised by her grandparents who she looked up to as her parents.
She said she lived in the said property with her grandparents until they both died. She said that her grandmother who was a former Commissioner of Police, was a Christian, while her grandfather was a Muslim.
Ms. Laguda noted that her grandmother was diagnosed with Dementia in 2011 and as a result of the loneliness he suffered following the seeming ‘absence’ of his wife of 55 years, her grandfather became a frequent visitor at the Mosque close to their home.
She said her grandfather became quite close to those at the mosque especially four men and a certain lawyer who allegedly helped write his will.
She said it was a shock to everyone in her family that after his demise in August 2018, the lawyer brought out a will reportedly signed by her grandfather where it was stated that her grandfather had willed an extension of the property to the Muslim community in the area.
Laguda said when the will was contested, a deed of gift was presented. She claimed that the “validity of the purported last will and testament is doubtful as it refers to a large extent to Sharia law which should not be applicable to the right of succession in an interfaith family.”
She also stated that the “validity of the will is further doubtful because it seeks to preordain the management of the house by keeping executors and trustees in perpetuity, instructing them about their course of action.”
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Ms. Laguda added that, according to the will allegedly signed by her grandfather, she is to move out of the property if she does not convert to Islam or marry a Muslim man.
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