ONE of Nigeria's leading real estate firms, Messrs CMB Building Maintenance and Investment Company Limited, redeveloping property at 139/141 Abeokuta Street, Ebute-Metta, Lagos has debunked claims by the Diyaolu family that the company did not consult all the stakeholders before the agreement was signed.A statement signed by the CMB's Corporate Affairs Manager, Ajoke Ogunlaja said earlier publication by the family contains certain misrepresentations and misconceptions as appropriate and legally recognised representatives who can lawfully exercise any rights over the Diyaolu family property were dealt with, and all due diligence was exercised.'The search on the title document confirmed that the freehold interest was registered in 1955 by Marian Diyaolu. In 1958, Marian Diyaolu registered the land in favour of her children jointly. The position of the law which disinherits the descendants of the joint owners, who had earlier passed on, is not our making. We advise the family to solve its internal wrangling and not involve our organisation in their family matters,' she said.'The reality is that the vast majority of the descendants of the children of the said Mariam Diyaolu did not inherit any interest at all in the land and cannot maintain any legal claim or legal challenge, in respect of the said land.'She claim that the company entered into an agreement with the Diyaolu trustees, who exercised all acts of ownership over the land in dispute, for decades and without any hindrance for a 60-year lease of land, at the end of which the property will revert to the Diyaolu family.'Our agreement with the Diyaolu family legal representatives was duly entered into, and Governor's consent was properly obtained on the transaction. It was consequent upon fulfilment of all obligations that our title was eventually registered on 16th October, 2009 at the Lagos State Land Registry as Title No. M013131. This remains the title we possess on the land till date.'CMB recalled that sometime in 2009, one Olatunde Egbesola approached the company with an agreement which he had entered into with the accredited representative of the Diyaolu family. By this agreement, Mr. Egbesola was to develop an unspecified number of flats on the Diyaolu land for the consideration of utilising the land for 60 years and giving one flat to the family.'The agent to the Diyaolu family then requested us to develop the land with the consideration of four flats to be shared between him and the Diyaolu family. We eventually agreed to develop 26 flats. Before the commencement of development there was a need to evacuate the squatters, hence the representatives of the Diyaolu family entered into negotiation with them for an amicable resolution. The majority of the squatters eventually agreed to vacate the land, but on terms. They all demanded monetary inducement which we made available.
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