Private firm threatens to demolish structures on Adeleke University

STRONG indication has emerged over the growing apprehension in Osun following the threat by a firm identified as Oshun Ceramics Industries Limited to demolish all the structures sited on the large expanse of land where Adeleke University, Ede is located, TribuneOnline authoritatively gathered.

The ceramic firm, which is laying claim to the 120 acres of land around Loogun-Ogbenrin road part of which the institution is situated had already forwarded a letter to the management of Adeleke University over its proposed plan to pull down all the buildings and structures on the land.

A copy of the letter intimating the management of the university about the demolition obtained by our correspondent dated 30th July 2018 advised the university to vacate the land, maintaining that the ceramic firm was in possession of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O), affirming its ownership over the land.

The letter, which was copied Osun State Commissioner of Police, Mr Fimihan Adeoye and the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2nd Mechanised Division, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo Barracks, Ojoo, Ibadan stated that “if you know you have built any structure in our land, kindly vacate the place immediately”.

It reads thus, “we are writing to notify you accordingly, that we have instructed Messrs J. Solat Nigeria to clear and demolish all the buildings and structures built on the 120 acres of land of the Oshun Ceramics Industries Limited. During the clearing of the land, the security agents (Army) and newspapers reporters will be present to rebuff any act of thuggery and report any incident in the media”.

But, the management of Adeleke University countered the claim of the firm over the ownership of the large expanse of land, contending that “the land upon which our institution is located, belongs to the university and as stated earlier, a statutory right of occupancy was issued in favour of Adeleke University by the Osun State government”.

In a letter of complaint written to the Osun State Commissioner of Police by the Registrar of the university, Mr Oyerinde Caleb Oyejola, the management of the institution maintained that “the university is aware that an alleged trespass which is a civil matter that can only be addressed in a court of competent jurisdiction and not on the desk of the Nigerian Army or press as claimed by Oshun Ceramics Industries Limited”.

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According to the letter, dated 8th, August, 2018, which was obtained by our correspondent in Osogbo, “the management of Adeleke University said “on the 30th of July, we received a letter from a company named Oshun Ceramics Industries Limited of their instruction engaging Messers J. Solat Nigeria Limited to unlawfully clear and demolish all buildings and structures built on our land, which is absolutely criminal”.

The letter reads, “the company made reference to the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2nd Mechanised Division, Adekunle Fajuyi Cantonment, Odogbo Barracks, Ojoo, Ibadan, Oyo State, the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Police Command, Osogbo and some other bodies in assisting them to carry out this unlawful act”.

When contacted on the development, the Vice Chancellor of Adeleke University, Professor Samuel Ekundayo Alao said there was no cause for alarm, pointing out that the claim being laid by the management of the firm over the land ownership was false, unsubstantiated and illegal.

Alao, who spoke during a telephone chat with the TribuneOnline on Tuesday said the land was given to the Adeleke family by the predecessor to the current Timi of Ede, Oba Munirudeen Adesola Lawal, emphasising that Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) in possession of the university was issued by the state government