The Ogun State Government has charged two traditional rulers with land grabbing, vowing to curb illegal land seizures regardless of status.
Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), said on Tuesday that the Onijoko of Ijoko Ota, Oba Fatai Matanmi, and the Olu of Orile-Igbon, Igbesa, Oba Yusuff Olasunkanmi, are facing charges of “forceful takeover of land and forcible entry contrary to law.”
According to the state, Oba Matanmi allegedly resold land previously bought by a late Madam Irokosu in 1976, and later harassed the complainant who had lawfully purchased it in 2016. “Although this claim was bogus, the complainant paid N5,000,000 to Oba Matanmi to let peace reign, but the Oba continued to harass the complainant,” the statement said, adding that the matter is before HCT/84R/2025: The State v. Oba Fatai Matanmi.
Oba Olasunkanmi is accused of using a judgment against third parties to unlawfully appropriate land more than a kilometre from the judgment area, allegedly displacing legitimate occupants. He is scheduled to be arraigned on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
The government also charged Chief Lekan Agbogun and Chief Akinbowale Beckley for allegedly selling another person’s property in Abeokuta to an overseas buyer without title documents, despite an existing building on the land.
“While these defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the state has filed these charges as a further demonstration of its commitment to tackling land grabbing,” Ogungbade said. “No matter the personalities involved, where the facts warrant, the state will resist and redress all land-grabbing actions that come to its notice.”
