Ogun Govt Drags Two Obas, Others To Court Over Alleged Land Grabbing
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The Ogun State Government has filed criminal charges against two traditional rulers and other individuals over alleged involvement in land grabbing across the state.
In separate charges filed before the High Court, the state accused the traditional rulers of unlawful takeover of land, forcible entry and violent dispossession of legitimate landowners.
One of the cases, filed as HCT/84R/2025 – The State v. Oba Fatai Matanmi, involves the Onijoko of Ijoko Ota, Oba Fatai Matanmi. According to the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), investigations revealed that the monarch had sold a parcel of land in 1976 to the late Madam Irokosu for ₦22,000.
The late buyer, who fenced the property during her lifetime, reportedly resold the land in 2016 to the complainant, who took possession before Madam Irokosu’s death. After her demise, however, Oba Matanmi allegedly began harassing the new owner, claiming the deceased owed him ₦28,000 as balance.
Despite paying ₦5 million to the monarch to resolve the matter, the complainant was allegedly subjected to further harassment, prompting the state to file criminal charges.
Similarly, in HCT/77R/2025 – The State v. Oba Yusuf Olasunkanmi, the Olu of Orile-Igbon, Igbesa area of Ogun State, faces charges of violent entry into land and unlawful appropriation of property belonging to multiple complainants.
The government alleged that Oba Olasunkanmi, through intermediaries, wrongfully enforced a judgment obtained against third parties to seize land more than one kilometre away from the original judgment area. The monarch is accused of chasing away lawful occupants and installing his own agents. He is expected to be arraigned on Thursday, September 25, 2025.
In addition, the government has filed charges against two other individuals, Chief Lekan Agbogun and Chief Akinbowale Beckley, for allegedly selling another person’s land in the Mosafejo area of Abeokuta. Despite the complainant’s existing building on the property, the duo allegedly connived to dispose of the land to a buyer overseas without any legal title or documents.
While noting that the defendants remain innocent until proven guilty, Ogungbade said the charges underscore the government’s determination to clamp down on land grabbing and related criminal activities.
“No matter the personalities involved, where facts warrant and it is in the public interest, the state will resist and redress all land grabbing actions brought to its notice,” the Attorney-General stated.
