Land grabbers face 25 years imprisonment, as Amosun signs bill into law

THE Governor of Ogun State, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has signed the bill, on land grabbing into law, on Monday.

The bill titled “H.B. No. 03/2016 – A bill for a law to prohibit forcible entry and occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties, armed robbery, kidnapping, cultism and allied matters and for other matters incidental thereto or connected therewith,” was passed by the state House of Assembly, on October 11.

Anyone found culpable of engaging in land grabbing activities now risks 25 years imprisonment or death sentence.

The clean copy of the bill was presented by the Assembly’s Speaker, Honourable Suraj Adekunbi, to the governor.

Amosun who spoke after signing the bill vowed that the law would be implemented to the letter, declaring that the state would not be haven for the land grabbers.

He ‎said, “We want to let people know that Ogun State will not be comfort zone for any criminal or so-called omo oniles (land grabbers). They have engaged in maiming, killing and lawlessness. But now, the law will go after them.

“We are now having enabling law to prosecute and anybody that runs afoul of this law, of course, will have himself or herself to blame.

‎”To the kidnappers, they know that this is their end. Anybody that involves himself in kidnapping, armed robbery and all these social vices will not be allowed in Ogun State. I want to believe that with the operation of this law, criminals will run away from the state.”

The governor appreciated the assembly, Ministry of Justice and other stakeholders for ensuring speedy action on the law.

The state Commissioner of Police, Ahmed Iliyasu, also corroborated Amosun, saying that the command would enforce the law accordingly.

The CP said, “This is a clarion call to all criminals, armed robbers, kidnappers, cultists and so on that there is no place for them in Ogun State. They should relocate because there is no room for them. We are ready to enforce the law.”