The ongoing crisis within the transport sector in Lagos State, particularly in Iba, Iyana-Iba, Isashi, and surrounding areas, compels me to speak openly and truthfully about the events that have shaped this situation and continue to threaten peace and stability.
My name is Alhaji Samsondeen Ajala (Kaosara), the Lagos State Chairman of the Road Transport Employers Association of Nigeria (RTEAN). What I present here is a detailed account of my knowledge and involvement in the long-standing issues surrounding Oba Sulaimon Adeshina Raji, popularly known as JAFO.
From my understanding and involvement in union activities over the years, JAFO’s entry into the transport union structure came through the assistance of Mr. Moradis Aliu, a pioneer and former branch chairman under the Motorcycle Operators Association (MOASS) within the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW). At the time, he approached Mr. Moradis seeking support to become financially stable after losing his place within NURTW.
Out of compassion, Mr. Moradis introduced him to key stakeholders, including Alhaji Kolawole Omotosho and others, and he was eventually given an opportunity as a branch chairman.
As events unfolded, internal crises within NURTW led to structural changes and the emergence of ANAKOWA (Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association) under RTEAN, where Alh. Musa Musa Muhammed was then the State Chairman in Lagos.
However, they started their job and made Ikuesan - a former human right activist whom they deemed fit to be their state chairman, with the agreement that when he finish his 4 years tenure, Mr. Moradis would take over from him
When Ikuesan finished in 2015, Alh. Musa Musa Muhammed hijacked the ANAKOWA by saying they should go and prepare for election. When they reminded him of the initial agreement, he insisted that there must be an election, so he created zone and made Mr. Moradis Aliu the first zonal chairman when Mr. Suraju Tajudeen, popularly known as EMIR was his secretary. All of a sudden, Alh. Musa Muhammad went to bring JAFO all the way from NURTW, that he Mr. Moradis should please create a unit and also make him a branch chairman in Igbo- Elerin. Mr. Moradis Aliu later did so and JAFO became a branch chairman.
However, it was not up to 2 weeks, Alh. Musa Muhammad called to inform him that JAFO would have to contest with him for the position of the state chairman of ANAKOWA. Mr. Moradis became so embarrassed and furious that JAFO just came with no single background Knowledge of how the union operate. He was never even an Executive officer, not until he was made a branch chairman 2weeks ago.
On the other hand, JAFO began to prostrate and started begging that Mr. Moradis should allow him run along side with for the same position of ANAKOWA state chairman. Low and behold for peace to rain, he allowed that they both should contest.
Accreditation was scheduled for 9:00am, while election was said to take place by 11:00am but by the time Mr. Moradis got to the election ground at 8:00am, they said election has been conducted and that JAFO was the one who emerged as the state chairman.
For peace to reign the second time, Mr. Moradis accepted and agreed that JAFO becomes the state chairman but what pained him most was that he was given the position of the last officer. That really hit him hard.
He felt cheated and wrote petition to the Inspector General of Police that Alh. Musa Muhammad has hijacked ANAKOWA from them.
With the support of other members of Trustee, they also went to court and involved EFCC, explaining even how Alh. Musa Muhammad has stopped their job and embezzled all the money for thos periods. After that Inspector General of Police sent for all area commanders and DPO’s to assist him in other to help them resolve the matter. In the midst of all, Mr. Moradis took over as the chairman and continued the job.
Later on, Alh. Musa Muhammad and JAFO went to meet Moradis at the Ikorodu Area command and begged him for settlement. The Area commander also showed them the petition but Alh. Musa Muhammad said he would not allow to have 2 state chairmen so they need to settle.
In the end, they all agreed that whoever among the members choses to submit to Moradis as their chairman should be allowed to do so, and whoever choses to submit to JAFO as their chairman should be allowed to do so.
However, on the following day, they went to give machetes and guns to some boys to start fighting people, and they framed Mr. Moradis that he’s the one who sent those boys. They eventually arrested and locked him up. He called Femi Falana who then called the CP who ordered his release and also attested that they have cheated Moradis and later gave him last exco. So they should go and do the needful and resolve the matter with him. Then, they all went to Chief. Age’s house who also happened to be Alh. Musa Muhammad’s in-law for settlement.
Eventually, they gave Moradis the position of the Deputy Operation, then he left them and allowed peace to reign.
For God is so good, they - Alh.Musa Muhammad and JAFO fought when JAFO sabotaged him and a lot of people died in the process of the fight they both caused at Iyana-Iba. Then JAFO became the chairman under LASPAGA for more than a year. Later, Alh. MUSA Muhammad worn the court case and the union was reverted back to RTEAN. JAFO in one way or the other used the money he has also embezzled during LASPAGA period to find his way back to connect with Alh. Musa Muhammad since the only thing he understands is money, so they settled and JAFO remains the chairman of RTEAN.
Again, they later fought and Alh. Musa Muhammad plans to remove him cause of money embezzlement- a situation where he collected 3million naira each from people by promising to make them zonal chairmen. Many of them sold properties but to no avail. JAFO also embezzled over 200million naira meant for HMO under ZEMZEM Insurance company.
The associated invited ZEMZEM insurance company. They came and attested that JAFO truely contacted them for insurance scheme, that they even bought him a Corrola car in appreciation but he he demanded that they change it to SUV which they did, but he eventually did not give them any money or complete the insurance transaction with them. That he only used the name of their company to embezzled money.
Due to mounting pressure, JAFO shamefully resigned from his position in September 2022. That the job is not worthy of a royal king. He also found his way out of EFCC.
Following due process, a proper election was conducted, and I emerged as the Lagos State Chairman of RTEAN.
Upon assuming office, I made deliberate efforts to stabilize the system and maintain peace, even in the face of persistent complaints from members regarding past grievances. In the interest of peace, I engaged all parties and encouraged restraint.
All of a sudden we heard that JAFO has used his personal JAFOSON CAC registered Certificate to seek for license so that he would be in charge of Tricycle and Motorcycle in Lagos state but he failed and didn’t get the approval.
He went ahead to empower boys with matches and gun and they started another fight with members where a lot of people were injured, and many entered coma.
The association went to court and the court nullified all his claims.
Moving forward, I still went ahead to place him on monthly salary so that he will not continue fighting our member or disturbing their job. Even at that, he did not stop disturbing our members to the extent that he othered boys to dubble crosse and beat our members that passes through Iba community on their way from meeting.
Despite the verdict of the court, he still went ahead to start printing illegal tickets within his Iba kingdom; Iba new cite, aratumi, isashi and iyana school axis with no single regard for the law.
Fast forward till today, 17th of May 2026. When our members at iyana went to resume their daily work, they realized that JAFO has ordered Abokis from Alaba, fully loaded in 3 Hummer Buses with Gombe number plates, with new matches and started matchetting and injuring our members.
Oye- the Akinrogun of Iba who happens to be a chief in his cabinet but also a member of our association was matched in the hear. And his boys was also matchet on the head. These boys ran into Iba community but JAFO refused them safety or entrance as Jelili- the junior brother of JAFO, same parents, also a member of Eiye confraternity that JAFO usually used to commit atrocities brought out gun and started shooting at them till they had to run away for their lives.
The police actually arrested Jelili, but JAFO did not allow them to take him to station, so he ordered them to bring him to the palace, and that was all. He was released.
Now, we hereby call on the Commisioner of police, Lagos state to please to intervene and ask the tactical team to rearrest and serve him justice. Also, we would like to inform the council of Oba in Lagos state that Oba Sulaiman Adeshina Raji (Oniba of Iba) has turned to a blood sucking king. Also a dictator
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