Court remands Ondo monarch over alleged land grabbing

By Boye Oyeyemi

A Magistrate Court sitting in Oke-Eda, Akure, has remanded a traditional ruler, Oba Adewale Boboye, over alleged involvement in illegal land takeover in Ondo State.

The monarch, said to be the Ajagunode of Ode Community in Igoba, Akure North Local Government Area, was arraigned on Wednesday on charges bordering on conspiracy, forceful takeover of landed property and alleged intimidation linked to a disputed parcel of land.

The prosecution accused the defendant of threatening an individual identified as Ajilegan over land belonging to Olrof Company Limited and allegedly using thugs to dispossess the rightful owners of the property.

According to the prosecution, the alleged actions were capable of causing breach of peace and undermining lawful ownership of land in the state.

The court granted the monarch bail in the sum of N2,000,000 with two sureties, one of whom must be a recognised chief or traditional ruler within the Akure Magisterial District with verifiable landed property.

Pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions, the court ordered that the defendant be remanded at the Olokuta Correctional Centre.

Reacting to the development, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr Olukayode Ajulo (SAN), said the state government would sustain its crackdown on land grabbing and related criminal activities.

Ajulo warned that lawyers, surveyors, land agents and other collaborators aiding illegal land transactions would also face prosecution. “There are collaborators and enablers who provide legal and logistical support to these criminal activities. Let it be clear that no one will be spared,” he said.