Two arraigned over alleged land grabbing in Ikorodu

Philip Odugate and Adebayo Taiwo have been arraigned before a Magistrate’s Court sitting in Ikorodu, Lagos, on a five-count charge of illegal sales of a landed property at Adegbose Estate in Ikorodu.

The defendants, who pleaded not guilty, were charged for conspiracy, stealing, unlawful entrance, falsely obtaining and unlawful possession, which contravened Sections 409, 312, 285, 52, and 53 of the criminal Law of Lagos State, Nigeria, 2011.

They were charged for selling the property belonging to Mr. and Mrs. Watson Olasunkanmi.

The property, which was said to be worth N5 million, was sold to one Mr. Gabriel Omotayo at a give-away price of N2 million.

The victim, Gabriel, was deceived by the fraudsters with the issuance of fake land documents, which didnot make him suspicious of the dubious deal.

The Pesiding Magistrate, Mr. Olatunji, granted the defendants bail on the sum of One million naira each and two responsible persons, who must be civil servants and not below Grade Level 14 as surety.

He added that the sureties must provide evidence of tax payment for the past three years and must reside within the court jurisdiction, which must be verified by the prosecutor of the court.

While adjourning the matter till September 10, 2015, Olatunji ordered that the accused should be remanded in Kirikiri prison, pending the time his bail will be perfected.