Ogun plans law to check land speculators

Worried about frequent attacks by land speculators on prospective homeowners, the Ogun State government has initiated a bill to check the acts.The bill, forwarded by the executive to the State House of Assembly, titled “Prohibition of Forcible Occupation of Landed Properties Law, 2016” when passed into law, would make it an offence for any person to act or purport to act on behalf of any party to a real property transaction, whether in respect of a sale, leases, license or other dealings or disposal of or relating to the property, including any person engaged for the purpose of forceful takeover or sale of a landed property.

The Deputy Speaker of the House, Olakunle Oluomo, while speaking at a Stakeholders Forum in Abeokuta, said that the Assembly was partnering with the executive arm of the government to ensure speedy harmonisation and passage of the bill.

The Deputy Speaker who represented the Speaker, Suraj Adekunbi at the occasion assured that the bill would soon be passed into law.The Speaker solicited continued support for the Senator Ibikunle Amosun- led administration to put an end to the menace of forcible occupation of landed properties in the State.

In his contribution, the State Attorney General and Commissioner For Justice, Dr Olumide Ayeni commended members of the State House of Assembly for organizing the forum, adding that the proposed policy when combined with a bill being proposed by the executive arm would result in an all-inclusive law.

The Chairman House Committee on Lands and Housing, Adebiyi Adeleye, said that the forum was an opportunity for stakeholders to contribute to the bill so as to promote peace and tranquility in the State .Adeleye assured that the bill would put in place legal framework to punish hoodlums, thugs, miscreants and touts who parade themselves as landowners.