Ogun State government has arraigned Oba Taofeek Owolabi, the Olu of Obafemi in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of the state, for land grabbing.
The government, in a statement on Wednesday by the Ministry of Justice, said that the monarch was taken to court for conspiracy to sell property without authority, obtaining property by false pretence, assault of a police officer, unlawful use of agents and forceful takeover of land.
According to the statement, Oba Owolabi, who is currently suspended, is accused of laying an unlawful claim to 500 acres of land within Obafemi Owode town.
The traditional ruler is also accused of deceiving a developer, one Dr. Michael Adeyemi, into paying him N75 million for the land.
The statement added that the traditional ruler never remitted the sum to the landholding families, adding that he also placed thugs on the land, who macheted one individual, while he personally attacked a police officer from the task force combating land grabbing in the state.
“Oba Owolabi withdrew those cases subsequently but never submitted to the House’s investigations. The House Committee would eventually recommend that Oba Owolabi should be prosecuted for land grabbing.
“Under the leadership of the paramount ruler of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, the Egba Traditional Council summoned Oba Owolabi several times, but Oba Owolabi defied those invitations.
“As long as it is in our power to do so, we will resist all land grabbers, no matter how highly placed they appear to be,”; the statement said.
Earlier this month, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the State, Oluwasina Ogungbade, advised members of the public to .
Ogungbade this known while speaking with newsmen, saying, the general public should follow due diligence in land purchase in order not to lose their hard earned money to land grabbers.
