The Ogun State House of Assembly on Thursday passed a resolution urging the State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, to constitute a special task force on Anti-land grabbing, anti-cultism, and other related offences across the three senatorial districts of the state.
The passage of the resolution followed a motion moved by the Majority Leader Sheriff Yusuf, seconded by a member representing Ijebu North I State Constituency, Sylvester Abiodun, and supported by other lawmakers at a plenary presided over by the Speaker, Olakunle Oluomo, at the Assembly Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta
They called for an urgent constitution of the task force against the menace of cultism and land grabbing as provided in line with the State Anti-Land grabbing Law, 2016.
The house resolution was prompted by the presentation of a member representing Abeokuta South 2 State Constituency, Ademuyiwa Adeyemi, who reported cases of rivalry cult clashes in some parts of the State resulted in killings and apprehension by residents of communities in the State.
He said the incidents had made them hurriedly close their businesses.
On his part, a member representing Ifo 2, Ganiyu Oyedeji also presented a case of illegal enforcement of court judgment on land matters affecting over 50 communities.
Oyeeeji claimed that the enforcement was aided by some security personnel including policemen and soldiers at Olorunsogo and Sunren communities in Ifo
According to him, the act is against the provision of the existing anti-land grabbing law in the State.
The lawmakers sought the immediate intervention of the house to protect the law-abiding people of the State as well as requesting means of curbing the recurrence of dastardly acts such as cultism, land grabbing and kidnapping amongst others across the state.
Responding, the Speaker stated that it was high time all stakeholders concerned with prosecution of criminals evoked relevant sections of the Law.
He said those arrested in connection with cult clashes and land grabbing matters accordingly must be prosecuted.
He, however, cautioned the security agents to avoid unlawful reduction of charges against suspected criminals in the process of prosecution.
He further called on the higher echelons of the Nigeria Police Force and Nigeria Army to call their men and operatives to order by ensuring compliance with the ‘Sheriff and Civil process law’ and avoid being used to aid unlawful enforcement of land judgments obtained from any courts of law.
Oluomo said “Sections 6(2), and 14 (2) of the Law, stated that, “any person who enforces or uses agents for the enforcement of any judgment in respect of a landed property except as provided under the Sheriff and Civil Process Law is guilty of an offence and liable to a fine of five million naira or imprisonment of ten years or both such fine and imprisonment.
“The Power to enforce this part of the law may be vested in the Joint Taskforce, to be constituted by the Governor, comprising the representatives of the Bureau of Lands and Survey, Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning, and any other relevant Law Enforcement Arm of Government.
“Any security or Law enforcement personnel used to unlawfully violate the provision of this Law shall on conviction be liable to two years imprisonment or fine of two hundred and fifty thousand naira or both”.
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