The Lagos State House of Assembly has called for tougher measures to curb land grabbing, extortion, and multiple sales of land in the state.
The lawmakers urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to direct all land-related agencies to act swiftly in protecting property ownership, enforcing peaceful possession, and sanctioning offenders.
This followed the presentation of a petition titled “Abuse of Office, Malicious Destruction, Land Grabbing and Undue Conversion of Property” against Ikorodu West LCDA Vice Chairman, Aluko Olusegun, by a resident, Mr. Moruf Oludare.
The House Committee recommended that Mr. Tijani Maruf, who obtained the necessary state government documents, be granted permanent possession of four plots of land purchased from the Oponuwa Ogunmolu Adaraloye family branch in Igbo Agbowa, Ikorodu.
It further directed Mr. Olusegun to stop unlawful encroachment and construction on two other plots, in line with a January 2025 High Court judgment declaring the family branch he purchased from as non-owners.
Lawmakers, including Mr. Akinsanya Nureni (Mushin Constituency 1), insisted that Olusegun should face punishment to deter others from selling land to multiple buyers.
Speaker Mudashiru Obasa condemned land grabbers for intimidating certified property owners with false family disputes in order to resell lands.
The House unanimously adopted the committee’s recommendations, affirming Mr. Maruf’s right to enjoy his property without further harassment.
Reporting by Olusegun Haastrup