Police arraign community leader over allegations of land-grabbing

The Police on Tuesday arraigned a 63-year-old community leader, Lawrence Ige, before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan over allegations of land-grabbing.

Ige, who is the Baale of Elekokan in Igana, Oyo State, was charged with conspiracy, land-grabbing, unlawful encroachment and use of violence for the purpose of land-grabbing.

He, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him before Justice O.A. Adetujoye.

The Prosecution Counsel, Mr Williams Tijani, told the court that the defendant committed the offences between 2021 and now at Igana.

Tijani said the defendant and others at large used self-help to take over the real property of one Dr Mojisola Sodeinde.

He said the defendant encroached the land without lawful authority and used violence against Sodeinde for the purpose of grabbing her land.

The counsel said the offences contravened Section 516 of the Criminal Laws of Oyo State and Sections 4, 9(1) and 7(1) of the Real Properties Protection Law of State, 2016.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Mr Oluwatobi Fatoki appeared as the watching brief counsel for the nominal complainant, while Mr John Adebisi appeared for the defendant.

Justice Adetujoye granted the defendant bail in the sum of N100,000 and one reliable surety in like sum.

Adetujoye, while granting the bail, held that the offences are bailable and not capital.

“Moreover, the granting of bail is at the discretion of the court,” she said, adding that she put into consideration the personality of the defendant who is a community leader.

The judge thereafter adjourned the case till Dec. 12 for hearing.

NAN