Lagos okays law against land grabbing

Government says offenders risk 21-year jail term

Governor Akinwunmi Ambode yesterday criminalised land grabbing by signing into law the Lagos State Properties Protection Bill.

By this, land grabbers, notoriously known as omoniles and others, who engage in forcible land acquisition risk being jailed for 21 years.

The state’s house of assembly had passed a comprehensive bill outlawing such illegal activities and forwarded it to the governor for assent.

The law, which is titled: “A law to prohibit forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conduct in relation to landed properties in Lagos State and for connected purposes,” will be enforced by a taskforce, together with the police.

Ambode maintained that the law is critical because land-grabbing activities needed to be stamped out as they were slowing the inflow of investment in the state and the ease of doing business.

He further said that the state needed to ensure that people carry out their business activities without hindrance and intimidation.

To ensure that offenders face accelerated trial, the governor pleaded with the state chief judge, Justice Olufunmilayo Atilade, to set up special courts to hear land-grabbing cases. The governor noted that, with the law, investment in the state would grow and usher in prosperity.

The governor noted that the presence of the speaker and the chief judge of the state showed that the three arms of government are united in the war against land grabbing.

He stated further that the Properties Protection Law and the Neighborhood Safety Corps Law, which was also signed yesterday, are central to his administration’s focus to protect lives, grow investment and improve ease of doing business.

On the Neighborhood Safety Corps Law, Ambode said it is aimed at engendering communal support for the police and other security agencies.

The Property Protection Law, also in retrospect, provides penalty for those who use force or self-help to take over landed property three months before the commencement of the law. Section 2 (2) states: “A person or group of persons, who having used force to take over a landed property in the state before the commencement of this law and still remain in possession of the said property three months after the commencement of this law commits an offence.”