Land grabbers: Ogun Assembly wants IG’s intervention

On Tuesday, the Ogun State House of Assembly ordered the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to investigate the alleged unlawful detention and imprisonment of state residents who were innocent of any wrongdoing on trumped-up accusations by the police, who were allegedly working with some suspected land speculators in the state.

In the midst of the debate over the second reading of the State Anti-land snatching (amendment) bill, the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, made the appeal during the plenary as the lawmakers alternately reported widespread instances of land snatching in their separate constituencies.

This information was provided in a statement released by Lawal Jamiu, the state assembly’s head of information.

Oluomo claimed that because land speculators and some security personnel colluded to target innocent members of the public, hundreds of innocent state citizens had been left to languish in the police’s numerous prison facilities, both at Alagbon in Lagos and the Force Headquarters in Abuja.

In order to prevent innocent people from suffering as a result of trumped-up charges, he begged the IG to intervene.

He suggested that any land-related issues be brought up in court while also promising that the new amendment to the bill, H. B. No. 006/ OG/ 2023- Prohibition of Forcible Occupation of Landed Properties, Armed Robbery, Kidnapping, Cultism, Violence and Other Related Offence (Amendment) Law, 2023, would guarantee the formation of a task force by the State Government to handle land-related issues.

The sponsor of the bill, Hon. Damilola Soneye, noted earlier that the issue of land snatching had become widespread in the state and that the modification was therefore necessary to make the law more effective and efficient.

Other lawmakers, including Minority Leader Olalekan Adeleye, Deputy Speaker Bolanle Ajayi, Waliu Owode, Olusegun Odunuga, Wasiu Ayodele, Fola Salami, Oluseun Adesanya, and Babatunde Tella, stated that the activities of land grabbing have been affecting the state’s peace, development, and progress, necessitating the need for a comprehensive strategy to combat the problem.

The Assembly also claimed to have received a list from Governor Dapo Abiodun that included the names of an additional ten commissioner candidates.

The fresh nominations will be examined by the parliamentarians today at 2 o’clock prompt, according to a release issued by the Clerk/Head of Legislative Service, Mr. ‘Deji Adeyemo.

The new nominees are Mr. Sofela Adebola Emmanuel, Hon. Ilori-Oduntan Olufemi, Engr. Taiwo Oludotun, Hon. Owootomo Bolu, Mr. Oresanya Oladimeji, Hon. Balogun Ademola, Mr. Osunbiyi Tunde, and Mr. Fagbayi Sesan.