The Ogun State Government has taken action in a property dispute between a businesswoman, Damilola Adisa, and a suspected land grabber, Najeem Osolake. According to reports, Osolake was arrested and charged in court by the office of the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice following a report by PUNCH. Adisa had alleged that Osolake threatened to seize her late father’s property in the Ibafo area of the state, despite her having valid documents.
Adisa had reported that Osolake went to her late father’s property and threatened to seize it, despite her having valid documents and her father’s grave being located on the land. She also claimed that Osolake threatened to kill her and her siblings if they did not surrender the property. The matter was initially handled by the Ibafo Police Station, which arrested Osolake but later released him. Adisa alleged that the police asked Osolake for his documents, but he couldn’t produce any.
The Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Oluwasina Ogungbade, ordered the Ogun State Task Force on illegalities to arrest Osolake in early August, and he was subsequently charged to court. Ogungbade disclosed this to PUNCH in a telephone interview, stating that Osolake was brought to Abeokuta and charged to court. The commissioner noted that Adisa had been on the land with her father for some years, and he had a structure on it, which he died and was buried on.
Osolake was remanded for 60 days and later settled out of court following pleas from his children, who signed undertakings that their father would neither trespass on the property nor threaten the owners. The commissioner stated that Osolake’s children advised their father to forget the land and whatever claims he had, as Adisa’s family had been on the land for some time. The matter was settled through mediation, and the criminal charge was withdrawn.
According to Ogungbade, the decision to settle the matter out of court was due to Osolake’s age, being about 70 years old, and the undertakings signed by his children. The commissioner stated that he felt they could achieve common ground through mediation and withdrew the matter. However, he noted that if Osolake shows up again to disturb Adisa and her family, they can reinstate the criminal charge.
Adisa commended PUNCH for amplifying her voice, which drew the attention of the state government, and noted that it was her first experience getting justice since her father died in 2015. She expressed her gratitude to the state government and the Commissioner for Justice for their intervention in the matter. Adisa stated that she was treated well by PUNCH for helping her get justice from the government.
The intervention by the Ogun State Government in this land dispute demonstrates its commitment to protecting citizens’ rights and preventing land grabbing. The government’s action, following a report by PUNCH, has brought relief to Adisa and her family. The case highlights the importance of the media in bringing such issues to the attention of the authorities and the need for citizens to report such incidents to prevent further occurrences.
Key points
- The Ogun State Government arrested and charged a suspected land grabber, Najeem Osolake, following a report by PUNCH.
- The land dispute was settled out of court through mediation, with Osolake’s children signing undertakings that their father would not disturb Adisa and her family.
- The intervention by the government has brought relief to Adisa and her family, who had been threatened by Osolake.
