Islamic leaders cry out over attempt to sell MKO Abiola’s property

From James Ogunnaike, Abeokuta

The Governing Council of Zulikha Abiola Centre for Arabic and Islamic Studies, Abeokuta has cried out over an attempt to sell a property belonging to the late business mogul and politician, Chief MKO, Abiola.

The property, located on a parcel of land at Abiola Way area of the state capital, has been in use for Islamic School with a mosque used by an Islamic organization for their Sunday worships and other activities.

A press statement, signed by the solicitor to the Governor Council, Barrister Mutiu Agboke, a copy of which was made available to newsmen in Abeokuta yesterday, indicated that an influential family close to Abiola’s family in Abeokuta (name withheld) was allegedly behind the move to sell the property.

Agboke, who issued the statement ‘on firm instruction’ of the Governing Council, said those attempting to sell the property were allegedly working with some unnamed member of Abiola’s family.

The legal practitioner explained that the Islamic and Arabic School has been on the land since 1978 and was dedicated, through will, to be an Islamic center after the demise of Abiola and entrusted to the Governing Council of the institution.

Thereafter, according to the statement, the first son of the late politician, Kola Abiola was made the proprietor of the college.

The statement reiterated that Abiola’s family had at no time, sold, lease or licensed the property to any individual or group of people to take charge for the purpose of sale or lease.

The statement further revealed that when information filtered about attempt by some people to sell the property, an inscription which reads ‘this property is not for sell’ was written on the walls of the property only to be wiped by some unknown people.

The solicitor however cautioned anyone attempting to buy the property from any land agent to desist ‘for doing so will amount to buying nothing’.