Hands Off Land Grabbing, Lagos Warns Traditional Rulers, Others
Lagos State government yesterday warned traditional rulers in the state and other prominent citizens in the forefront of land grabbing to desist from the criminal act or face the wrath of law.
The state government in a statement issued by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adeniji Kazeem expressed its resolve to fully enforce the Properties Protection Law recently signed by the state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode to end the menace of land grabbing in the state.
The government who threatened that it would not hesitate to use the instrumentality of the law to decisively deal with anyone who forcefully dispossess people of their legitimate rights to land added it would also not allow anyone forcefully collect money for foundation, roofing and fencing, among others.
Adeniji said it would enforce the law against anyone found wanting no matter how highly placed in the society.
According to the Attorney General government is not oblivious of the fact that some of the land grabbers were being sponsored by highly placed members of the society including traditional rulers, pledging that any of such people “who encourage or connive with Omo-Oniles or Ajagungbales to perpetrate their illegal activities would be made to face the full wrath of the law.”
Adeniji said for the avoidance of doubt: “The Properties Protection Law seeks to reduce to the barest minimum the activities of persons or corporate entities who use force and intimidation to dispossess or prevent any person or entity from acquiring legitimate interest and possession of property acquired through State Government or Private transactions.
“The law will also ensure the Special Task Force on Land Grabbers set up by the Governor under my office to work with all security agencies to ensure enforcement of State Government and Private property rights in the state and ensure proper coordination of the efforts of the various agencies of government charged with enforcing the state government’s rights over land in Lagos.”
