Village Alleges Document Forgery, Harassment; Seeks Action Against Ogun Monarch

Abeokuta, Ogun State — The Oluwanishola Village community in Gbalefa land, Atan, Ogun State, has petitioned the state government over allegations of land document forgery, intimidation of residents, and activities they say threaten public peace.

The petition, addressed to the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, accuses HRH Oba Adewunmi Adeniji, the Onibudo of Aiyetoro-Budo, of collaborating with a private land developer to unlawfully take over parts of the community’s ancestral land.

Submitted through FBS Attorneys and Solicitors on December 3, 2025, the petition was filed on behalf of the Baale of Oluwanishola Village, Chief Folorunsho Soetan, the community youth leader, Mr. Jimi Adebari, and other residents. The petition alleges that the monarch has been acting as a “company secretary” to Nurabam Global Services, a firm owned by Mr. Nurudeen Araba, who the villagers describe as a known land grabber.

According to the petition, Oba Adeniji allegedly witnessed and supported a forged Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) purportedly executed in 2013, which was later used to backdate ownership claims over contested lands. The disputed document was reportedly tendered in Suit No. HCT/477/2019, where the defendants allegedly admitted to forging aspects of the contractual documents.

Quoting Paragraph 12 of the defendants’ joint statement of defence, the petition asserts that Nurabam Global Services admitted to “forging a formal contractual relationship” with certain families and communities. A written deposition by Mr. Araba is also cited as confirming the alleged forgery.

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The community claims that the forged MoU enabled the company, with the alleged involvement of the monarch, to unlawfully take over portions of Abule Tisa and neighbouring villages. The petition further states that the company initially approached the community as protection against land grabbers but later turned against them after being disengaged for alleged fraudulent conduct.

Residents now reportedly live in fear, as thugs believed to be linked to Nurabam Global Services are said to be operating around the area “with proliferation of arms,” heightening tension and creating a threat to public safety.

“Our clients have witnessed increasing harassment, intimidation, and breakdown of public peace. Their lives are no longer safe,” the petition warns, urging the state government to intervene to prevent a potential crisis.

The community appealed to the Commissioner and the Egba Traditional Council to call the monarch to order to avert what it described as an impending communal conflict. Copies of the petition were also submitted to the Alake and Paramount Ruler of Egbaland, HRM Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo, and the Ogun State Attorney General.

As of the time of filing this report, neither Nurabam Global Services nor the Onibudo of Aiyetoro-Budo had issued a public response to the allegations.