Residents of Makogi Kanakana in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State have accused a traditional ruler, Oba Babatunde Akanni Sonola, of orchestrating violent attacks against them through hired thugs.
Oba Sonola was among the 75 coronet monarchs sacked in 2020 by Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State. However, a high court in the state overturned the sacking.
The family that was attacked, Osho Kanakana, told SaharaReporters that Sonola sent thugs armed with cutlasses to attack them while they were celebrating the Ogun festival.
Mr Taiwo Adewusi, spokesman for the family, told SaharaReporters that while they were celebrating, they suddenly saw some thugs sent by Sonola wielding cutlasses and attacking everyone.
He identified their ringleader as Dimeji Muftau, who was captured holding a machete, while his accomplice, Taoreed Oseni, was later apprehended as others fled.
The family accused Sonola of selling their land and harassing them for opposing the sale.
“They came while we were worshipping Ogun festival with the Baale of Makogi Kanakana and his team. Sonola sent his thugs, armed with cutlasses, to attack us. At the end of the day, many people were slashed,” he said.
“The man who sustained a deep cut is Kehinde Owoseni. He was rushed to the hospital. The thugs were later arrested and taken to the Magistrate Court in Mowe. However, Sonola intervened to secure their bail and got them released. The case is scheduled to come up on March 26.
“Sonola is a very notorious person. The state government has warned him to stop parading himself as an Oba. People should ask him where the staff certificate of office issued to him is. He is using the traditional title to defraud people and seize their land.
“We are calling on the Ogun State government to arrest him for parading himself as an Oba despite the warning letter sent to him. There are several petitions filed against him with the Nigerian police for land grabbing and selling people’s land while assaulting them.”
Another victim of Oba Sonola, Oladimeji, told SaharaReporters on Wednesday that he bought one acre of land in Makogi, not from Sonola, and that all necessary documents, including the family receipt and Deed of Assignment, were duly issued to him.
He said sometime in 2023, Sonola, under his company name Tallman Properties Ventures, asked him to pay the sum of eight hundred thousand naira (N800,000) as a ratification fee and issued him a receipt for the payment.
Oladimeji told SaharaReporters that he never bought the land from Sonola but paid the money to maintain peace and avoid being harassed by thugs.
“To my dismay, immediately after the payment, in October 2024, when we started work on the site, we discovered that our property had been sold to another person, Alhaji Zakari, a Bureau de Change operator.
“I called Sonola, and he vehemently denied it, saying no one had sold my land and that it was just a rumour. I thanked him. However, last week, when we went to begin work on my property, some thugs arrived and started attacking the labourers, accompanied by Alhaji Zakari.
“He started threatening the labourers, claiming he bought the land from Sonola. He was later arrested along with the thugs he brought to attack my workers.”
Oladimeji said at Zone 2 Police Station, Zakari later admitted that he had been defrauded by Sonola. After being presented with evidence, he wrote a statement and pleaded to be allowed to harvest the rice he had planted on the land before vacating the property.
“He never sought my permission to plant any rice, so I was surprised when he claimed he had planted rice after realising he had been defrauded by Sonola. Now, he is pleading, despite having assaulted the people who came to work on the land,” Oladimeji said.
“I have no issue with anyone. He should go and settle with Sonola. He should stop coming to my property, or else I will fully follow the Nigerian Constitution and use legal means to protect my land from any land grabbers.”
“He was invited by Zone 2 Police Headquarters for assault, but he refused to honour the invitation,” Oladimeji added.
Oba Babatunde Sonola has been invited by the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Zone 2, Lagos, as part of a fact-finding investigation aimed at ensuring justice and fairness.
A letter with Ref No: Alt: 3000/ZN.2/DFA/SVC/TA/VOL1/35 37, obtained by SaharaReporters, was signed on March 17 by DCP Adamu Bello Muhammed, Deputy Commissioner of Police (ZDFA), on behalf of the AIG, Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos.
The letter urged Sonola to respond to the allegations raised against him.
The letter reads, “This office is investigating a matter reported to the Assistant Inspector General of Police Zone 2 Police Command, Onikan, Lagos.
“In order to facilitate investigation, you are requested to report to the officer in-charge Zonal Servicom, with GSM No. 0803699**** on 20 March, 2025 by 1000hrs.”
“Be informed that this is a fact-finding exercise in the interest of justice and fairness. Accept the assurances and warm regards of the Assistant Inspector-General of Police please. ASST Zone 2 Headquarters, Onikan, Lagos,” the letter further reads.
When SaharaReporters contacted Oba Babatunde Sonola, he denied selling any land to anyone, stating that the property belongs to Oladimeji and remains unaffected.
“His property is still there. Even when my brother came to meet me, I told him that Oladimeji’s property is intact and that no one has the right to touch it. I assured my brother not to worry.
“Even the person who sold the land to him came to see me, and I told him the same thing—that Oladimeji’s property is still there. I really appreciate how you spoke to me with respect, which is why I responded to you.
“I do not know Oladimeji personally, but I know his brother. The person who sold the land to him has also come to meet me, and I repeated that Oladimeji’s land is intact and that no one can sell it,” Sonola added.
When asked about the attack on some community members, he said he was busy.
Meanwhile, when SaharaReporters contacted the Ogun State Police Command spokesperson, SP Odutola Omolola, and asked if the command knew of the assault, she responded, “Macheting is not allowed.”