Land deal: Ogun Assembly receives petition against Pastor Ashimolowo
The management of Arc-View Investments Limited has petitioned the Speaker, Ogun State House of Assembly and the State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, accusing Pastor Matthew Ashimolowo of harassment, intimidation and fraudulent business practices.
The petition, signed by the Company MD, Okegbenro Idowu, indicated that Arc-View Investment Limited had bought and developed several acres of land from Pastor Ashimolowo at the Bluestone Gardens City in Ofada town.
The petition dated February 19, 25, reads, “We humbly want to use this medium to bring to the notice of your good office, the case of harassment, intimidation and fraudulent business practices against our organization by Pastor Mathew Ashimolowo.
“Over the last four years, we have bought and developed several acres of land from Pastor Ashimolowo at the Bluestone Gardens City in Ofada town.
“Recently, we negotiated and entered into an agreement to buy another 285 acres of land from the same estate. We have so far been able to pay for 135 acres from the land due to prevailing economic challenges in the country. We are however shocked to see that while we are still making efforts to complete payment for the entire land as agreed, Pastor Ashimolowo has resulted in forceful recovery of the entire land despite the subsisting agreement between us on the land.
“The entire land as we speak has been fenced off by Pastor Ashimolowo. We are denied access to the land as thugs, touts and criminal elements have now been stationed on the land. Some of our staff have been intimated, beaten and assaulted by the thugs. We also have it on good authority that security operatives have been compromised on this matter.
“The information getting to us is that Pastor Ashimolowo is about to sell the land to another company in other to cheat and swindle us by refunding the money we have so far paid for the 135 acres back to us.
“This is a clear case of fraudulent intimidation as we will be glad to be allocated the portion of the land we have paid for from the entire land. Sir, as we write you, our subscribers and clients are becoming agitated, frustrated and restless as they are not able to access the lands they have paid for. Some of our clients who have tried to access the land have either been beaten or assaulted by Pastor Ashimolowo’s thugs.
“We have also been troubled by the calls and threats from our clients who are becoming violently agitated. Arc-View Investments Limited over the last fifteen years have operated with integrity and the fear of God.
“We have ensured that all clients who pay us for landed properties get what they pay for. Over the last six years, we have developed and delivered more than 5,000 housing units in different parts of Lagos, Ogun and Oyo State. We currently own the largest privately developed residential estate in Ogun State; built for low- and middle-income earners.
“Sir, our CEO and MD are both responsible indigenes of Ogun State. They have continued to contribute to the development and progress of Ogun State in various capacities.
“Sir, we seek the urgent intervention of your good office and person on this matter. We pray and request that you rein in Pastor Ashimolowo and stop him from harassing and intimidating us or our clients who have paid for the land. We are more than happy to make do with the portion of land we have so far paid for and consider his offer of refund as not only an attempt to cheat us but to fraudulently swindle us.
“We are hopeful that your intervention will bring a final and amicable resolution of the matter. We thank you most sincerely for the anticipated help and assistance.”
When the State House of Assembly received the petition on Tuesday, it was however referred to the House Committees on Justice, Ethics and Public Petitions as well as Lands and Housing.
The House Committee Chairman on Justice, Ethics and Public Petitions, Hon. Oluseun Adesanya, while presenting the petition before the State House of Assembly during the plenary did a brief on the allegations levelled against Ashimolowo in relation to the transactions on the land matter at the Blue Garden City, Mowe town.
Responding, the Speaker, Rt. Hon. Oludaisi Elemide, charged the committee to invite the concerned parties in the petition for further legislative deliberations.
