The Ogun State Government says it has arraigned the Olu of Obafemi in Obafemi Owode Local Government area of the state, Oba Taofeek Owolabi, for alleged land grabbing.
The development was announced in a statement issued to newsmen on Wednesday by the Ogun State Ministry of Justice.
According to the statement, the royal father was taken to court for conspiracy to sell property without authority, sale of property without authority, unlawful use of agents, forceful takeover of land, assault of a police officer, and obtaining by false pretence.
Oba Owolabi was accused of laying an unlawful claim to 500 acres of land within Obafemi Owode town and deceiving a developer, one Dr. Michael Adeyemi, into paying him N75 million for the land.
The statement said the monarch did not remit the money to the land holding families, adding that the traditional ruler also placed thugs on the land, who macheted one individual, while he attacked a police officer from the task force combating land grabbing in Ogun State.
Also Read:
- Tinubu congratulates Ayo Obe at 70
- CSOs seek probe into alleged abduction, killing of kid in Sokoto
- Anambra: Police invite publisher over report of alleged missing persons
- DSS DG builds, donates modern Islamic school to Kaduna community
- YABATECH Rector charges staff to demonstrate high level of professionalism
The statement said the Ogun State Government took several steps to call Oba Owolabi to order, adding that he ignored a July 2024 summons by the Ogun State House of Assembly, choosing instead to file two suits in court, which the Ministry of Justice defended.
The statement said: “Oba Owolabi withdrew those cases subsequently but never submitted to the state House of Assembly investigations.
“The House Committee would eventually recommend that Oba Owolabi be prosecuted for land grabbing.
“Under the leadership of the paramount ruler of Egbaland, HRM Oba Aremu Gbadebo, the Alake of Egbaland, the Egba Traditional Council summoned Oba Owolabi several times, but the coronet Oba defied those invitations.
“The Ethical Committee of the Egba Traditional Council also engaged Oba Owolabi to no avail.
“Thus, on 13 December 2024, the Egba Traditional Council suspended Oba Owolabi from his office as Olu Obafemi for conducting himself in a manner entirely unexpected of a traditional ruler. That suspension is still in effect.”
The statement said although Oba Owolabi perfected his bail conditions, his trial remains ongoing, while the Ogun State Government remains committed to seeing justice done.
It added: “We would like to assure all members of the public to keep faith with our efforts to restore sanity to land administration in Ogun State and to draw confidence from our resolve to prosecute Oba Owolabi.
“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.
Follow The Eagle Online Channel on WhatsApp
