Stop land grab by Chinese, Lawyer tells Ogun governor

Governor Dapo Abiodun has been urged to stop alleged attempts by Chinese doing business in Ogun State to grab land from legitimate owners. 

The appeal was made by a London based legal practitioner, 

Adeniran Adewumi, who said, alongside  other citizens in the state, he had become a victim of such land grab by rich foreigners. 

Adewumi, who is an indigene of Ekiti state in a statement at the weekend, claimed that he acquired the land in 2005 from OPIC (Ogun State and Investment Property Corporation) and has started to develop it when an Ogun state-based Chinese firm built a bigger perimeter fence around his own. 

According to him, the discovery of the encroachment caused him to reach out to OPIC who confirmed to him that the property remained his own as they knew nothing about the trespassers. 

Adewunmi informed that apart from his property, parcels of land in the area belonging to other citizens have been similarly encroached upon by a particular Chinese firm. 

While affirming that he made all necessary payments to the coffers of Ogun State government and in possession of relevant documents confirming his ownership of the land, he lamented that because of the difficult swampy terrain it is located, he had invested a lot of resources in sand filling and preparing the ground for development.

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Adewumi said he was still on the United Kingdom when the encroachment was first brought to his notice after which he contacted OPIC to determine the status of the property. 

He said: “It was like a joke. I then called OPIC and Bureau of lands and OPIC confirmed that as far as they are concerned, my land is secured and that it was Bureau of Lands that were selling the lands to Chinese people because they have been given money and that was when  I knew the Chinese  bought acres of land in the area and they ended up encroaching my land and other lands.”

“Being a lawyer and a victim, I believe Governor Abiodun that I know very well would not tolerate or support  this criminal and wicked act,” he said.

“I hope and pray the government of the day in Ogun State led by His Excellence Dapo Abiodun will stand up for truth, justice, fairness, humanity and all that are godly in line with his oath of office. 

“Beyond that he stood on the Alter of God Almighty, at RCCG Jesus House London whilst sharing his election victory testimony to say he will be just and fair in governing the state. 

“This is one of the many times that God Almighty will hold him to his words and commitments before Him and man. I call on him to fulfill his promises on this count,” Adewunmi pleaded.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE