Coalition urges probe into alleged murder accusations
Coalition of Civil Society in collaboration with Centre for Citizens Rights has called for probe into alleged accusations against Chair of the Youth Forum of Ojomu Royal Family in Lagos
Coalition of Civil Society in collaboration with Centre for Citizens Rights has called for probe into alleged accusations against Chair of the Youth Forum of Ojomu Royal Family in Lagos State, Hammed Tajudeen.
Speaking at a briefing in Lagos, Chair of the Coalition, Adeyemi olorunshogo, said the allegations by Lagos State Police Command against Tajudeen are baseless.
The coalition threatened to embark on protest if the command fails to retract its allegations in seven days.
It said: “Consequently, we make the following demands and expect it will be met in seven days from today and otherwise, we shall protest not just against the commissioner of Police and state command but mention names of other individuals fingered in this plot.
“The constitution of a special, neutral, and professionally competent investigative team to review the allegations; the prosecution of persons found to have made false, malicious, or fabricated claims; and a public retraction of the unlawful declaration portraying Tajudeen as a murderer.
“A cease in the further sales of land indigenously belonging to Ojomu Royal Family of Ajiran in Eti-Osa Local Government by few individuals.
“The retraction of the commissioner of Police from being the one to investigate the matter as he is obviously compromised in this matter.
“We believe this will not be seen as a threat. As a coalition, we will not watch the rights of a people be taken away or some individuals using their influence to curry favour or miscarry justice in the name of investigations and prosecution of no offender.
“We trust that the appropriate authorities will intervene to restore confidence in due process, uphold the rule of law, and ensure that policing in Lagos State remains professional, impartial, and accountable.”
The coalition alleged that Tajudeen was not giving fair hearing before police declaration. “It is important to state that at no time was Tajudeen invited by the police for questioning.
“At no time did he refuse or fail to honour any police invitation. At no time was any warrant of arrest issued against him by a court of competent jurisdiction. At no time was any judicial authorisation or order obtained to declare him wanted.
“Despite these concerns, on February 20, the command convened a briefing during which Tajudeen was publicly accused of sponsoring multiple murders.
“This exposed him to odium, ridicule, and severe reputational harm, all without due process or the basic courtesy of an invitation for questioning.
“This is intimidation, attempt to cow and silence a family and a way to call a dog a bad name in other to hang it.
“It is against this backdrop that we consider it imperative to set the records straight, ensuring that the rights and dignity of all parties are preserved while lawful processes run their full and proper course.
“For the records, the Ojomu Royal Family is historically vested with vast ancestral lands spanning approximately 22 villages, towns, and settlements within Lagos State.
“For over 35 years, large portions of these ancestral lands have allegedly been dominated, controlled, and sold by certain traditional authorities within the community without transparent accounting to the family or any visible, traceable development accruing to the community from the proceeds of such transactions.
“In recent years, youths of the family have demanded accountability, transparency, and clarity regarding management and sale of these ancestral lands, particularly in the interest of future generations.
“These legitimate demands, however, were allegedly met with resistance, intimidation, and petitions to the police against members of the youth forum, led by Tajudeen.
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“Records show that in the last five years alone, over 25 petitions were written against the youth forum. In each of these cases, investigations were conducted by the police, and the allegations were reportedly found to be baseless, frivolous, and without merit.
“Despite this history, members of the forum were repeatedly and falsely linked to criminal incidents within and around Ajiran Town, including serious violent crimes, even where there was no factual basis connecting them to such incidents.’’
“Specifically, reference must be made to the murder of a community member in April 2023 at Moba, a neighbouring settlement.
At the material time, Alhaji Hammed Tajudeen, the Chairman of the Youth Forum, a prominent community figure and longstanding pillar of support to the ancestral family renowned for his philanthropy, including sponsoring the education of indigent children and making weekly voluntary donations to widows and economically vulnerable members of the royal family and the wider community was outside the country.
“Nonetheless, he and other members of the youth forum in the community were accused. Following investigations by the Lagos State Police Command, they were fully exonerated.”
