Ondo task force refunds couple N4.1m for disputed land
By Boye Oyeyemi
The Ondo State Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force has recovered and refunded N4.1 million paid by a couple, Mr. and Mrs. Coats, popularly known as Anu and Pablo, for a disputed 10-acre property in Ugbo Oluwa, Ipogun, Ifedore Local Government Area.
The couple had raised the alarm on social media after allegedly being unable to recover their money when they discovered that the property they purchased was located within a gazetted government Forestry Reserve.
According to the couple, they paid N550,000 per acre for the property but later commissioned an independent survey that established that the land was within the government reserve. They subsequently demanded a refund of the money paid for the property.
Following the development, the couple petitioned the office of the Ondo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, submitting their affidavit, survey documents, payment receipts and other relevant evidence. The matter was subsequently referred to the Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force in Oke-Eda, Akure, for investigation.
After the task force intervened, the couple confirmed that they had received a refund of N4.1 million. They commended Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, the attorney general and Commissioner for Justice, and the Chairman of the task force, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo, SAN, OON, for their prompt response.
“We thank Governor Aiyedatiwa for the legal framework and institutional mechanism put in place to tackle land grabbing and protect residents and legitimate investors. They listened to us, looked into the matter and acted swiftly, and today, we have received our money,” the couple said.
They described the intervention as an indication that residents and investors could seek government assistance when confronted with land-related disputes, adding that their experience had strengthened their confidence in the state.
Ajulo said the recovery demonstrated the administration’s commitment to protecting property rights and strengthening confidence in Ondo’s land system. He urged residents to report suspected cases of land grabbing and fraudulent property transactions to the appropriate authorities, assuring that anyone found culpable after investigation would face the law.
