In a bold move to uphold the rule of law and combat land grabbing, the Ogun State Government has arraigned the suspended Olu of Obafemi Owode, Oba Taofeek Kayode Owolabi, on multiple criminal charges including conspiracy, fraudulent sale of land, assault, and forceful land takeover.
According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the Ogun State Ministry of Justice, Oba Owolabi was brought before the court on Tuesday for conspiracy to sell property without authority, unlawful use of agents, forceful acquisition of land, assault on a police officer, and obtaining money under false pretence.
The Ministry alleged that the monarch laid unlawful claim to 500 acres of land within Obafemi Owode town, and deceived a developer, Dr. Michael Adeyemi, into paying him ₦75 million for the land.
“Despite receiving the payment, Oba Owolabi failed to remit the money to the landholding families and instead deployed thugs to forcefully seize the land”
“One individual was macheted by the thugs, and the monarch himself assaulted a police officer attached to the State’s Anti-Land Grabbing Taskforce,” the statement noted.
The government revealed it had made several attempts to engage the monarch before resorting to legal action. These included a summons by the Ogun State House of Assembly in July 2024, which Oba Owolabi ignored. Instead, he filed two suits in court against the House’s action—both of which he later withdrew without honouring the legislative investigation.
“Oba Owolabi withdrew those cases subsequently but never submitted to the House’s investigations,” the statement read. “Eventually, the House Committee recommended his prosecution for land grabbing.”
In addition to ignoring legislative summons, the statement disclosed that the monarch defied multiple invitations from the Egba Traditional Council under the leadership of the Alake of Egbaland, HRM Oba Adedotun Aremu Gbadebo CFR.
“The Ethical Committee of the Egba Traditional Council also engaged Oba Owolabi to no avail. As a result, the Council suspended him on 13 December 2024 for conduct deemed unbecoming of a traditional ruler. That suspension remains in effect,” the government noted.
Despite the gravity of the allegations, the statement affirmed Oba Owolabi’s constitutional presumption of innocence and confirmed that he has since met his bail conditions.
“The trial is ongoing,” the government added. “We wish to reassure the public of our unwavering commitment to restore sanity in land administration and ensure justice is served.”
The statement concluded firmly: “As long as it is in our power to do so, we will resist all land grabbers—no matter how highly placed they appear to be.”
