The Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, on Wednesday said the legislators would ensure the passage of a bill prohibiting illegal activities of land speculators in the state.
Ikuforiji spoke in Lagos at the public hearing on a private member’s bill introduced by the Chairman, House Committee on Judiciary and Human Rights, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade.
The bill is entitled: “A Bill for a Law to Prohibit Entry and Occupation of Landed Properties, Violent and Fraudulent Conduct in Relation to Landed Properties in Lagos State.”
He said that the House was worried about the dimension which the fight for land and violence associated with land matters had assumed in the state.
Ikuforiji said that the bill was to prevent violence on issues related to land in the state.
He said: “The dimension the fight is taking is scary.
“We have seen so many heinous crimes committed by the land grabbers (Omo Oniles or Ajagungbales) because people want to take laws into their hands.
“We are, therefore, trying to seek lasting solution through this bill because we are aware that many Lagos residents are also concerned.
“I think with this law, the menace will stop and the whole idea of ‘Omo Oniles’ will be a thing of the past.”
Also, Prof. Wole Smith, the Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Lagos, said that the bill was all about providing security and protecting individuals in the state.
Smith said that it was a bill that people were interested in and called for adequate publicity and awareness when it finally became law.
Stakeholders at the public hearing lauded the House for its bold step to halt the activities of land grabbers through the passage of the bill.
Among other things, the bill seeks to prohibit violent, forceful entry and possession of land by anyone or group of persons.
It is also aimed at dealing with any person who, without lawful authority, uses or threatens violence, for the purpose of securing entry into any landed property for himself or for any other person.
The bill prescribes different penalties ranging from six months to 21 years jail terms and fines of up to N300,000 for offenders.
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