Family seeks justice over son’s murder by thugs in Iyana Ipaja

Ejigbadero

• Ejigbadero denies involvement as police probe incident

The family of a deceased transporter, Ajayi Michael has petitioned the Deputy Inspector General (DIG), Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID), Abiodun Alabi over alleged involvement of Abiodun Ejigbadero in the killing of Michael at Alimosho area of Lagos State.

They urged the DIG office to take over the case, alleging that Ejigbadero, an All Progressives Congress (APC) chieftain, will use his political influence in the state to evade justice.

Others mentioned as perpetrators of the mayhem with Ejigbadero are Bukunmi Awe, Fatai Ayomide Sunday (Isan), Olufimo (Destiny), Lookman (Upper), Malo, Jaboto, Sheriff Omisore, Mario, Dare (Drey), Seun Ekunusi, Balogun, Oluwasegun Ogbonnaya, and Suraju Ekunusi.

Ejigbadero, the son of the late Jimoh Ejigbadero was reported to have been terrorising Alimosho Local Council of the state. Speaking with The Guardian, counsel to Ajayi Michael’s family, Gbenga Babawibe, said on April 16, Ejigbadero allegedly led some thugs to attack members of the Nigerian Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Iyana-Ipaja branch over the control of the bus terminus located in the area.

It was alleged that the Chairman of Alimosho LCDA, Sulaiman Jelili withdrew the collection of the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) collection contract from Ejigbadero and gave it to another person.

Dissatisfied with the situation, Ejigbadero allegedly led thugs to displace the new contractor and in the process, shot Ajayi, a transporter to death. Several others who received gunshot wounds were said to be receiving treatments in various hospitals in the area.

The police was alleged to have arrested some people in the area, including Jelili the council chairman, the Chairman of NURTW, Iyana-Ipaja branch, Adedayo Omotolani, Ejigbadero and several others for preliminary investigations. They were, however, released on Thursday, April 18, 2024. Alimosho residents have also lamented that Ejigbadero has been following in his father’s footsteps by doing fake land documents.

They claimed that he said his father had bought all the lands in Alimosho local council. One of the residents lamented that even when the people have registered documents of their lands, he is still tormenting land owners in Alimosho.

It was alleged that Ejigbadero sends his boys out to collect money from shops and kiosk owners in the area.“He has started disturbing people again. For instance, if you have a shop or a kiosk in front of your house, he will tell you to pay money.

“It was alleged that if his boys reported anyone for not paying for any amount they demanded, he would deploy more thugs to the area and shoot without resistance,” the resident said.

They accused the government of playing politics with him and allowing him to do anything he wishes. “He claims his father is the owner of the land and he goes around beating people and harassing them, if we go to the police station to complain, nothing will happen. He has the police and every government apparatus in his pocket. I don’t know if we actually have a government that is protecting its citizens’ lives. But I know the goal is to save us from this invisible killer,” another resident said.

When contacted Ejigbadero said he is not a unionist and was not involved in the incident. He said: “The whole land in the area belongs to my father and we have a court judgment to back it up. Because of this, they are ganging up against me.

“There is a place where we have been collecting dues for more than 10 years. We collect the money and use it to help the people in the town. This is because they need the money to take care of themselves.

“The council chairman has been attacking me because I am supporting Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, while they are followers of Rauf Aregbesola. Since then, he has taken almost all my jobs.

“I am only collecting royalties on my father’s land. I am not a tout but into Real Estate.

“One of my boys called me before the incident that a guy came around to send them away, that the chairman told him that we are having an issue. I told him that the place was not given to me by the chairman and that I am only operating on my father’s land, adding that no one has ever disturbed me there. We only make N15, 000 there per day. So, I told him that it’s not fair to be there since he has his own branch.

“I got a call that some guys were going there to attack my men, and I immediately called the NURTW chairman in the state, Mustapha Adekunle popularly known as Sego and he called everyone to order.

“I got another call last Monday that thugs were planning to attack the second day. I called the Divisional Police Officer of Gowon Estate and he said he was going to act on the information.

“I called the area Commander and went there the next day. Instead of the Police acting, I was told to write a petition and I asked my lawyer to do so.” He explained that they submitted a petition to the police and the Lagos State House of Assembly. He explained that while he was at the House of Assembly to submit the petition, he got information that the boys had started rioting.

According to him, one of his boys was stabbed with a bottle. As a result, the CP arrested the chairman, who ordered the boys to attack and invited me to Panti.

“So, I have no knowledge about the killing of Michael. I don’t have a gun and didn’t buy any for anyone,” he stressed. When The Guardian reached out to the spokesperson of Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, he said: “I am not aware of this case but I will find out. We will investigate it.”