Ondo court remands pastor, two others over land grabbing

The Ondo State Magistrate Court on Tuesday remanded three persons in prison custody over allegations of land grabbing in the state.

The defendants are High Chief Lateef Adelusi, Pastor Akintola Alaba, and a land surveyor, Adebiyi Olanibi.

This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the state Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Kayode Ajulo (SAN).

According to the statement, the defendants were arraigned on allegations bordering on encroachment on another person’s land and unlawful takeover of property.

The statement read, “Those charged include High Chief Lateef Adelusi, Pastor Akintola Alaba, and Surveyor Adebiyi Olanibi, on allegations bordering on encroachment on another person’s land, unlawful takeover of property belonging to Mr Akinnusi Folorunsho and others, as well as illegal sale of landed property belonging to the Ojumu family.”

Ajulo said the Ondo State Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force would continue to intensify enforcement without compromise, insisting that there would be no retreat in the implementation of the law.

He described the prosecution of the defendants as part of ongoing operations under the task force’s mandate, adding that efforts were being intensified to audit government lands and properties that have been encroached upon across the state.

“This is only one phase of our assignment under the Anti-Land Grabbing and Property Protection Law. As you can see, the law respects no one.

“When a surveyor, who is expected to be a custodian of land documentation, finds himself on the wrong side of the law, it signals the seriousness of our enforcement.

“We will continue to act within the law, but we will not retreat,” the Attorney General stated.

He also urged persons currently occupying public land without valid approvals to either regularise their occupancy where possible or voluntarily vacate such properties before enforcement actions commence, stressing that the government would not tolerate land fraud or illegal allocation of public assets.

“I am deeply shocked that some government houses, which are already insufficient to meet the needs of the government, are being sold illegally.

“As though that were not enough, even critical government assets are being targeted under dubious schemes.

“Fortunately, we have been able to halt some of these transactions.

“Within the scope of our mandate and through the instrumentality of the law, we will ensure that no government property is unlawfully transferred into private hands,” he said.