Land grabbing – Lagos State Ministry of Justice

Lagos State Government Moves To Tackle Land Grabbing

Posted on February 28, 2024

….prohibits forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties In a bid to curb and tackle the unscrupulous activities of land grabbers in the State,the Lagos State Government through the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers under the State Ministry of Justice, on Tuesday , organized a stakeholders meeting, Themed: Safeguarding Possessory Rights in Lands: The Role of Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, at Leawood Hotel, Sangotedo, Eti-Osa. The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN who spoke at the event, noted that the rise in cases of Land grabbing is an issue of great concern to the State Government. According to the Attorney General, the purpose of organizing the Stakeholders’ Meeting is to foster open dialogue, share information, experiences, and collectively identify solutions to the problems inherent in the activities of land grabbers. “As part of the effort to address the issue of land grabbing in the state, the Lagos State Government enacted a law to prohibit forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, as well as violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties in the State” Pedro stated. He said resolving land grabbing issues is of great importance to the Sanwo-olu T.H.E.M.E.S .PLUS Administration. Mr. Lawal Pedro, SAN, stated that the menace of Land grabbers has led to conflicts on lands in the State which has resulted in destruction of properties and even loss of lives. “It is a fact that property transactions in Lagos State have been greatly hindered by the activities of the Omo-Onile and Ajagungbales” he said. Furthermore, the Attorney General emphasized that the law on land grabbing that was enacted in 2016 still stands regardless of one’s status in the society. He explained some of the provisions of the Lagos State Property Protection Law, 2016 and ln particular, Section 2(1) of the Law, which prohibits the use of force or self-help by anyone to take over any landed property or engaging in any act inconsistent with the proprietary rights of the owner of any landed property in Lagos. Speaking earlier, the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Titilayo Shitta-bey Jeje, expressed delight towards participants and key stakeholders present for honoring the invitations provided for the event. The Solicitor General noted that the gathering is of utmost importance which is to explore the role of the Taskforce in Safeguarding Possessory Rights in land within the State. “the issue of land grabbing has been a persistent challenge in various parts of our state, causing unrest, stifling commercial activities, and disrupting the lives of Lagos residents” she said. Mrs. Titilayo Shitta-bey Jeje stated that it is crucial for all hands to be on deck in shaping the policies and strategies that will curb land grabbing activities in the State. While urging participants and key stakeholders to work together in ensuring safety of landed properties in the State, she wished everyone present, a fruitful and engaging discussion towards eradicating illegal acts of land grabbing in the State. Also speaking, Director of Public Prosecutions and Guest speaker of the occasion, Dr. Babajide Martins, stated that since its inception, the Task Force has been actively engaged in addressing this menace, receiving and resolving numerous petitions. “The Taskforce has received 7500 petitions out of which 1251 are frivolous, 4283 disputes have been resolved, 205 land grabbers have been arrested, 60 cases are being prosecuted in various courts while1566 petitions are currently pending before the Task Force” “However, our work is far from over. Challenges persist, and it is imperative that we come together as a community to find sustainable solutions”, he said. The ELEJIGBO of Langbasa, HRM Oba Hafeez Olakunle Badiru, said that Land grabbers for decades have constituted a threat to property acquisition in Lagos, saying that there has been alarming reports of Land grabbing. While acknowledging the State Government efforts in curbing Land grabbing in Lagos, Oba Hafeez Badiru, implored the State Government and the Police to ensure immediate prosecution of identified land grabbers and their sponsors to serve as a deterrent to other citizens in the State. Delivering the vote of thanks, the Coordinator, Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Ms. Rukayat Shomade, expressed gratitude to the State Government and the Ministry of Justice for their immense support towards the agency and looked forward to future collaborations.

Lagos Sensitises Badagry Residents on Land Grabbing Laws

Posted on March 10, 2022

In an effort to rid the state of the menace of land grabbers and ensure that those found culpable of the crime are prosecuted, the State Government on Thursday organised a stakeholders forum for residents of Badagry Division The stakeholders meeting organised by the Ministry of Justice and the State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers is to inundate the residents of the Lagos State Taskforce on Land Grabbers Law, 2016. The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo (S.A.N) disclosed that the meeting is to intimate stakeholders on the Law and how it protects the rights of land owners, communities and indeed the State from the activities of Land Grabbers. Onigbanjo, who was represented by the Solicitor General and Permanent Secretary in the State’s Ministry of Justice, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey noted that the State is leaving no stone unturned to educate Lagosians on the negative effects of land grabbing as this has led to the break down of law and order, economic instability amongst others. The Commissioners further disclosed that the Ministry is working with relevant agencies of government for proper implementation of the Land Grabbers Law, 2016 so as to nip the menace in the bud. The Attorney-General however charged traditional rulers, whom he described as custodians of customary lands to move against the activities of Land Grabbers in their domains, while also sensitisiting the youths and other members of their Communities on government efforts on Land Grabbing. He warned that the State Government will not tolerate the activities of Land Grabbers in the State, noting that the Land Grabbers Law 2016 has provisions to punish offenders with up to ten years imprisonment and a fine up to the sum of five million naira or both. Also speaking, Coordinator, Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers, Mr. Owolabi Arole said it is imperative to brainstorm with major Stakeholders on indigenous ideas to nip the activities of Land Grabbers in the bud. According to Arole, most land grabbers are often not indigents of the State, but unscrupulous elements who have found means of creating mayhem and to this end ,his Agency will not rest on its oars until it rid the state of land grabbing activities. On his part, the lawmaker representing Ojo Constituency 2, Olatunji Tijani said there is a clear line between Land Grabbers and Land Owners, adding that the menace of land grabbing is a result of lack of partnership among stakeholders and the never ending rot in the system. The Aladi ,Onijanikin of Ijanikin Kingdom,Oba Dr Momodu Afolabi Asafa clamoured for unity among traditionals rulers in the domain adding that land matters should not cause disaffection and disunity among residents Stakeholders at the sensitisation exercise who were drawn from various parts of the Lagos West Senatorial District called for more synergy between government, law enforcement agencies and stakeholders to further stamp out the activities of Land Grabbers in the State. The stakeholders also attribute the rise in land grabbing activities to greed and illiteracy. The event with the theme; ‘’Land Grabbers, the Law and Your Rights’’ had in attendance law makers, judicial officials, traditional rulers, security personnel, representatives of religious bodies, land owners, residents amongst others.

Lagos Sensitizes Epe, Ibeju Communities On Landgrabbing, Property Protection Law

Posted on September 23, 2021

Lagos State Ministry of Justice on Wednesday, sensitized residents of Epe and Ibeju communities on the nefarious activities of Landgrabbers and the State Property Protection Law. The State Attorney – General and Commissioner for Justice who is also the Chairman Lagos State Special Taskforce on Landgrabbers, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN who spoke at a Stakeholders meeting on Land grabbing held at Jata Hall, Ibeju said the rising cases of Land grabbing is an issue of great concern to the State Government. “As part of the effort to address the issue of land grabbing in the state, the Lagos State Government enacted a law to prohibit forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, as well as violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties in the State” Onigbanjo stated. He said resolving land grabbing issues is of great importance to the Sanwo-olu Administration. The Attorney- General who was represented by the Director, Office of the Public Defender , Dr. Babajide Martins stated that the menace of Land grabbers has imparted negatively on the growth of the real estate industry and investment. “It is a fact that property transactions in Lagos State have been greatly hindered by the activities of the Omo-Onile and Ajagungbales Martins said. While delivering a paper on the theme, “ Land grabbers, the Law and your Rights”, Martins, emphasized that the law on land grabbing that was enacted in 2016 still stands regardless of one’s status in the society. He explained some of the provisions of the Lagos State Property Protection Law, 2016 and ln particular, Section 2(1) of the Law, which prohibits the use of force or self-help by anyone to take over any landed property or engaging in any act inconsistent with the proprietary rights of the owner of any landed property in Lagos . Also, the Oba Alara of Ilara Kingdom, Oba Olufolarin Ogunsanwo, said that Land grabbers for decades have constituted a threat to property acquisition in Lagos, saying that there has been alarming reports of Land grabbing. While acknowledging the State Government efforts at curbing Land grabbing in Lagos, Oba Ogunsanwo noted that the community also has an important role to play in the ‘Greater Lagos initiative’. Ogunsanwo , however, implored the State Government and the Police to ensure immediate prosecution of identified land grabbers and their sponsors to serve as deterrent to other citizens.

LASG Arraigns Pastor for Alleged Landgrabbing, Forgery

Posted on June 30, 2021

The Lagos State Government on Friday 25th June 2021, arraigned one Rev. Godwin C. Godwin before a Special Offences Court sitting in Oshodi over alleged forging of documents and illegal sale of a plot of Land at Lekki Scheme1 area of the State. Rev. Godwin C. Godwin, a Pastor at Christ Salvation Divine Ministries International, was arraigned on a six-count charge by the Lagos State Special Taskforce on Landgrabbers. He is alleged to have illegally sold the plot of Land belonging to one Mrs. Halima Abdul – Malik situated at Block 108, Plot 8, Lekki Peninsula Scheme 1, within Eti -Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State before his arrest on Thursday, June 24th, 2021 and subsequent arraignment. According to the Coordinator, Lagos State Special Taskforce on Landgrabbers, Owolabi Arole, Rev Godwin was arrested following the investigation of a petition against him by the Law Office of Paul Onyeka & Co, Legal Practitioner on behalf of 83year old, ailing Mrs. Halima Abdul Malik. He said, ” The Lagos State Special Taskforce on Landgrabbers arraigned Rev. Godwin on a six- count charge before Chief Magistrate Micheal Olubi on Friday after detailed investigation on the Landgrabbing matter between the two parties “. Among the six -count charge are: One, Rev. Godwin and others in month of May – June 2021 at Block 108, Plot 8, Lekki Scheme 1, within Eti -Osa Local Government Area of Lagos conspired to commit felony contrary to section 411 Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. Two, He resorted to self-help in the recovery of possession and engaged in acts inconsistent with Mrs. Halima Abdul Malik proprietary right contrary section section 2(2) of Lagos State Properties Law 2016. Three, Rev Godwin is accused of threat of violence in the recovery of possession of landed property belonging to Mrs. Halima Abdul -Malik contrary to section 3 (1) of Lagos State Properties Law 2016. While in Count four and five, the defendant is accused of illegal sale of land belonging to Mrs. Halima Abdul -Malik and fraudulently converting the sum of Two Hundred and Thirty Million Naira being proceeds from the sale, to personal use. Contrary to section 8 (1) Lagos State Properties Law 2016 and section 280 (1b) Lagos State Criminal Justice Law 2015. In count six, the defendant is accused of forcefully entering into landed property and maliciously destroying the gate and fence of the landed property belonging to Mrs. Halima Abdul -Malik. Rev Godwin pleaded not guilty, while his Counsel applied to the court to grant him bail in most liberal terms. The Counsel argued that the offences for which their clients were charged are bailable, and that they were ready to defend the case. The Prosecutor, Mrs Ruqayat Shomade, a State Counsel with Lagos State Special TaskForce on Land Grabbers, Ministry of Justice did not oppose the bail application but urged the court to impose conditions which would make the defendant available for trial. In his ruling, Chief Magistrate Micheal Olubi granted bail to the defendant in the sum of N25 million Naira with two sureties who must be resident in Lagos State, and one of the sureties must be a land owner in the State, while the other must be at least a grade level 8 Public Servant or a Manager in a reputable company The sureties must also have 3 years tax clearance and registration with Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA). The matter was adjourned to 22nd July, 2021. Kayode Oyekanmi Director Public Affairs Ministry of Justice 28th June, 2021

Lagos Receives 1,000 Land Grabbing Petitions In One Year

Posted on December 23, 2020

…Resolves 350 Cases, Charges Suspected Kingpin To Court …As Law Enforcement Officers Begin Statewide Use Of Body Cameras The Lagos State Government has revealed that it received a total of 1,000 petitions relating to forceful take-over of landed properties in the State through the Special Task Force Against Land Grabbers out of which 350 were successfully resolved in the last one year. Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), who said this at the Ministerial Press Briefing held at JJT Park, Alausa, Ikeja to commemorate Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s first anniversary, said deliberate efforts were made by government to strengthen the Taskforce to arrest and prosecute suspected notorious land grabbers to send a strong signal about determination of the present administration to rid the State of illegal dispossession of landowners. Giving details of activities of the Ministry of Justice and its agencies in the last one year, Onigbanjo said: “The Taskforce with five Counsel received 1000 petitions out of which 350 have so far been resolved, while over 600 are pending and are at various stages of resolution. “About 20 petitions are currently being prosecuted in Court. 20 properties under dispute were marked with inscriptions by the Office to prevent any further transactions until pending issues are resolved. The arrest and prosecution of several suspected land grabbers were also effected in conjunction with security personnel attached to the Governor’s Monitoring Team.” The Commissioner listed some of the cases handled by the Taskforce to include the Ejigbo land grabbing case which had gone viral popularly known as the Adeoye’s case in which warrant of arrest was issued against the three alleged land grabbers; arrest and prosecution of land grabber at Ogudu GRA residential Scheme II; and recovery of land from land grabber at Ojota, among others. He said as part of the mandate of the Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Response Team (DSVRT), the team in the period under review held series of activities to galvanize strategic action and respond appropriately to formal and informal reporting of incidents of rape, defilement, domestic violence, child abuse, neglect and maltreatment. The team, he said, organized training for Judges and Magistrates; held a special advocacy walk tagged a walk to “commit and act” against all forms of sexual and gender based violence, and equally ensured the arrest and arraignment of an alleged wife Molester, one Sulaiman Maiyegun who on 5th of May, 2020 posted the beating of his wife which went viral on social media. The DSVRT, according to the Commissioner, also obtained restraining orders in court against domestic violence abusers. He said the Directorate of Citizen’s Rights (DCR) received 1308 petitions out of which 1070 have been resolved with 228 at different stages of resolution. “These Petitions spread across the Departments various Units, which includes the Human Rights Protection Unit (HRPU), Consumer Rights Protection Unit, Monetary Claims, Family Matters, the Employee/Employer Matters, and One stop Child Justice Centre. “The department also took part in prison watch which would take effect from May 2020 and conducted several rescue missions on abused children. Specifically, three children were rescued from their stepmother at Ikorodu; a 12-year-old boy was also rescued from his violent mother at Agege, while seven judgements were obtained at the National Industrial Court and an amount of N21,353,319 was recovered,” he said. Onigbanjo said the Public Advice Centre (PAC) received and treated 131,253 cases including Walk-ins within the period under review, ranging from pension claims, labour disputes, environmental issues, domestic violence, general legal advice, among others and equally obtained monetary claim of N4,518,000 on behalf of parties. He said the Administrator–General and Public Trustee, a unit responsible for managing and equitably sharing assets of estates of persons who died intestate (without leaving a WILL) received over 253 petitions in the last 12 months, out of which 185 were resolved through the instrument of mediation. “There were 704 Walk-In Enquiries where free legal services were rendered by seasoned Law Officers of the Ministry. Three court orders were obtained to administer some estates. The Office took over 24 Estates through petitions filed in court; generated over £22,500.00 (Twenty-Two Thousand, Five Hundred Pounds) on an estate abroad; paid N38,281,518.63 as Death /insurance benefits, and generated N120,136,489,” he disclosed. Onigbanjo said Governor Sanwo-Olu, through the Advisory Council on Prerogative of Mercy, granted order of release for 17 convicted inmates, while the Governor in April 2020 released additional 209 inmates convicted of minor offences as a way of decongesting the Prisons in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. He added that some bills were also presented to the State House of Assembly for amendment including Amendment of LSNSCA Law 2019 to establish the State Amotekun Corps, Land Use Charge Law Amendment, Public Procurement Agency Amendment, and Stamp Duty Registration Amendment. He added that 2,249 offenders were sentenced to community service for various offences, including some Nollywood celebrities who violated the Covid-19 social distancing regulations, adding that their punishment was supervised by the Ministry at various public institutions including Hospitals, Remand Homes, Traffic Management and Market sanitations. Also, he said the Law Enforcement Training Institute (LETI) carried out training for 11,234 Law Enforcement Officers in the 2019 fiscal year and commenced deployment of body cameras for the officers, just as it sensitized critical stakeholders such as National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) members across board, market leaders, among others on compliance with relevant laws regulating their operations. “LETI, in the period under review, commenced preliminary works on the acquisition and deployment of Body Cameras for use by the State Law Enforcement Agents; completed phase 1 of upgrading of facilities and agility training ground; carried out disaggregation of training schedules for more effectiveness and efficiency, as well as introduced the new curriculum with special emphasis on proactive law enforcement as opposed to the reactionary model,” he said.