A fresh crisis is brewing in Ogun State between the Gubernatorial Candidate for Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in 2023 elections and the state government over default notice for land use charges on the property of the former in Remo council of the state.

Adebutu had yesterday raised the alarm over plans by the state government to enforce land use charges on his property located at Ode-Remo, Remo North council of the state, describing it as an attempt by the incumbent to haram members of the opposition party

However, the state government in a swift reaction had urged Adebutu to stop crying wolf and interpretation political undertones to government activities, insisting that it is a statutory responsibility of the government through its finance ministry to collect the charges

Adebutu disclosed this in a statement made available by his director of Media and Publicity, Afolalabi Orekoya, titled “Ogun Sate Government undermines court process, threatens to carry out enforcement on Adebutu’s property”.

He alleged that the notice of default post on his property was another plot Governor Dapo Abiodun to “misuse of state power” to intimidate ‘silence and intimidate’ him as PDP’s chieftain bold enough to challenge All Progressive Congress (ADC) in 2027 elections.

The former gubernatorial candidate wondered when a case on the matter of land use and amenity charges on the said property which has been before the High Court of Justice, Sagamu, since 2018 and still pending, was now used as a weapon to not only to wage war against him, but to silence and prosecute his party ahead the 2027 elections.

He mentioned the two separate suits of the land use matter as HCS/275/2018 – Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu vs. Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Abeokuta, coming up on October 8, 2025.

The other one as: HCS/409/2024 – Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu vs. Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Abeokuta, still pending without a date fixed, describing them as an attempt by the current administration to harass him and silence the main opposition party.

Adebutu strongly criticised the state government’s actions, describing them as “laughable and contemptuous” towards the judiciary, for trying to enforce charges that are already the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, insisting that the ministry of finance lacks legal power to impose without adequate examination in line with the established laws.

He said “The attention of the Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation has been drawn to a Notice of Default posted on one of Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s properties located at Ode Remo in Remo North Loval Government by Ogun State Ministry of Finance under the watch of Governor Dapo Abiodun undermining court process on same matter.”

“We state categorically that these devilries are nothing but ploy by the government to silence and harass the opposition in Ogun State. This latest move is a clear misuse of state power to intimidate the opposition particularly, Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu and a distraction from the administration’s failure to deliver good governance to the people.

For the record, the matter of land use and amenity charge on the said property has been before the High Court of Justice, Sagamu since 2018 and currently the subject of two separate suits quoted below:

i. HCS/275/2018 – Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu vs. Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Abeokuta, coming up on October 8, 2025.
ii. HCS/409/2024 – Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu vs. Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Abeokuta, still pending without a date fixed.

It is therefore laughable and contemptuous of the judiciary for the Government and its agents to attempt to enforce charges that are already being contested in competent courts of law.

We must remind the public that, by law, the Ministry of Finance cannot unilaterally impose land use charges without proper assessment of the property in line with the Land Use and Amenities Charge laws of Ogun State. In this particular case, the so-called notice was merely posted on the property without due process, hence the ongoing litigation.

The Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation condemns this reckless abuse of power and calls on Governor Abiodun’s government to stop weaponising government agencies against perceived political opponents. Ogun State would be better served if the same energy was channeled into providing quality governance, infrastructure, and real service to the people.

We urge the good people of Ogun State to see through this intimidation tactic and remain resolute in the face of tyranny. Democracy cannot thrive where opposition voices are silenced through harassment and illegal enforcement actions.” He added.

But, the state government while reacting through its Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Ogun State Governor, Kayode Akinmade, urged Adebutu to quit reading political colouration to government activities on the land use charges imposed on him by the ministry of finance.

“It is unfortunate that Adebutu is reading political undertones to routine government activities and why are they (PDP) crying wolf over government activities.”

“Land use charges is the statutory responsibility of the government to collect land use charges and all properties in the state and it has no political colouration and it is one of the ways Ogun Govt. generate funds to finance the yearly budget and it is the responsibility of the ministry of finance to get that” he added.