Ogun Assembly set to pass bill against land speculators

Ogun State House of Assembly is set to check the illegal activities of land grabbers and speculators otherwise known as “Omo Onile” through a bill for the Prohibition of Forcible Occupation of Landed Properties Law, 2016.

The bill, which had scaled through the second reading at the plenary, when passed into law, will curb the nefarious activities of land speculators who often dispossess people of their landed properties.

Opening debate on the bill: H.B. No. 03/206 entitled: “A bill for a law to prohibit forcible entry and occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties in Ogun State and for connected purposes,” the sponsor of the bill, Honourable Olakunle Oluomo, stressed the  need to urgently  check the unlawful actions of the land swindlers, who had been violently dispossessing people of their landed properties.

While other members threw their weight behind the speedy passage of the bill, they described the activities of the land grabbers as inimical to the peace and security of the state as innocent people were being maimed and killed.

They described the bill as  people-oriented  which was long overdue, adding that land swindlers had been a menace and security threat to the society as their activities had escalated in recent times.

Making his ruling, the Speaker, Honourable  Suraju Adekunbi, lauded his colleagues for their contribution and thereafter transferred the bill to the joint House Committees on Lands and Housing, Justice, Ethics and Public Petitions for further legislative actions.

In a related development,  Honourable  Adekunbi, has urged the people of Elere and Onigbedu in Ewekoro Local Government Area of the state to remain law-abiding, peaceful and forward their petitions against land speculators to the state assembly.

He gave the advice while receiving a delegation from communities led by a community leader, Jimoh Fadipe, who came to present a petition against land grabbers in the communities which, according to him, had caused breach of peace in the area.