The Police in Osogbo have arrested two persons in connection with the alleged issuance of double approval on the same land by some officials of Oyo State Ministry of Lands and Urban Development.
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This followed a petition by Niyi Okanlawon of the law firm of Babatunde Oni & Co., who are the solicitors to Mr. Dapo Davies, the complainant. The firm has earlier written petitions to the Iyaganku Divisional Police Station and Governor Seyi Makinde over the same issue.

In the said petitions, Okanlawon accused some top officials of the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development of land racketeering by issuing new approval to another person on a land earlier approved for Davies in 2013.

The petitioner then called on Governor Makinde and Iyaganku Police Division to intervene to forestall breakdown of law, as well as averting floods and other related issues.

The petitioner explained that issuing another approval to another person on the same land already approved in the same Ministry is fraudulent and called for the governor’s intervention.

In the petition, Okanlawon explained that the said portion, which is part of 1,434.019 square metres, situate at Ogunpa, Oke Padre, Ibadan, Oyo State, was left alone as a set back in compliance with the statutory provisions of setback of 45.0 metres to the Ogunpa Rivers/streams to avert flood and other related issues.

The petition is titled, “Re: Double Registration And Double Permit On The Land Measured 1,434.019 Square Metres and Situated at Ogunpa, Oke Padre, Ibadan, Oyo State.”
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The one addressed to the governor was titled, “Re: Illegal Construction on the Statutory Setback Near Ogunpa River: A Call for Urgent Intervention.” According to the lawyer, their client is the owner of the land measured 1,434.019 square metres and situated at Ogunpa, Oke Padre, Ibadan, Oyo State.

“Having perfected ownership of the entire land herein described, our client obtained approval for the building plan from Ibadan North- West Local Planning authority and Ministry of Environment and Water Resources (then Ministry of Environment and Habitat) respectively.

“In compliance with the statutory provisions on setback, our client left a setback of 45.0 metres to the Ogunpa Rivers/streams to avert flood and other related issues.

“In recent times, and to our client’s amazement, one Alhaji Kamilu Orotoye started construction on the setback left by our client, which will be calamitous to our client and the surrounding neighbours.
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“To avoid breakdown of law, our client forwarded a letter to the Ministry of Environment and the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development respectively to identify the source of the problem.

“To our client utmost surprise, it was discovered during the meeting with the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development that the Ministry granted approval to the said Alhaji Orotoye to build on our client’s land and the setback.

“Against the backdrop of the above, we humbly appeal to your excellency to intervene in this matter to avoid breakdown of law and order,” the letter concluded.

The same petition was also sent to Iyaganku Divisional Police Station. Consequently, men of Iyaganku Division arrested some people over the matter and warned them not to carry out any construction on the land until its investigation is concluded.

It was further gathered that while waiting for the conclusion of the investigation and the governor’s response to the petition, these people allegedly returned to the land to carry out illegal construction.

Upon this development, another petition was sent to Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG), Zone ll, Osogbo, which has now taken over the matter from Iyaganku Division.

The men of Zone ll swung into action and arrested two persons on Thursday in connection with the matter, and warned the general public to stay clear of the said land until it concluded its investigation.
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