The Ogun State Government has warned residents against involving the police in tenancy disagreements, land disputes and other civil matters, insisting that such issues should be resolved through the courts.
The Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN, gave the warning during an interview on Frontline, Eagle 102.5 FM, Ilese Ijebu.
He said law enforcement agencies are being overstretched by matters that are strictly civil in nature.
According to him, contract disputes, property disagreements and domestic misunderstandings should not be criminalised.
He maintained that the appropriate step for aggrieved parties is to consult a lawyer and seek redress in court.
“We are overburdening the law enforcement agencies with cases that should go to civil courts. If someone has a contract dispute or a disagreement over property, the proper channel is to instruct a lawyer and seek redress in court, not to involve the police or the army,” he said.
Ogungbade cited a recent incident in Mowe where a woman was reportedly arrested at the instance of her landlord over a tenancy issue.
He described such actions as improper and warned that officers who overstep their bounds in civil matters could face disciplinary measures.
While noting that some disputes may contain both civil and criminal elements, he stressed that each case must be carefully assessed to avoid wrongful criminalisation.
“Sometimes the lines are blurred, but they still exist. Each case must be treated on its merits. Police officers who overstep in civil matters are subject to disciplinary action,” he added.
The Attorney General also spoke on the increasing number of land-related conflicts in the state, attributing the trend to Ogun’s proximity to Lagos and the rising value of land.
He said the government has prosecuted offenders, including traditional rulers, to demonstrate that no individual is above the law.
“When land is scarce and valuable, disputes are inevitable. We’ve filed charges against traditional rulers to send a clear message that no one is above the law,” he said.
Ogungbade assured residents that the state remains committed to strengthening the justice system, ensuring that civil disputes are handled through proper legal channels while criminal offences are dealt with firmly under the law.
