Ogun State Government Files Criminal Charges Against Obas, Others

ABEOKUTA, OGUN STATE, NIGERIA – Ogun State Government has filed charges against two traditional rulers and other persons, with respect to acts of land grabbing across the State.

According to a release e-signed by Oluwasina Ogungbade, SAN,
Attorney-General & Hon. Commissioner for Justice, and obtained by StarTrend Int’l magazine and online platform, the State Government filed charges of forceful takeover of land and forcible entry of land contrary to law against Oba Fatai Matanmi, the Onijoko of Ijoko Ota.

Facts uncovered in investigation revealed that Oba Matanmi sold a parcel of land in 1976 for N22,000 to one Madam Irokosu, now late. In her lifetime, Madam Irokosu fenced the land. Mrs Irokosu sold the land in 2016 to the complainant who immediately took possession after which Madam Irokosu died.

Following her demise, Oba Matanmi began to harass the complainant claiming that late Madam Irokosu owed him a balance of N28,000. Although this claim was bogus, the complainant paid N5,000,000 to Oba Matanmi to let peace reign.

Notwithstanding, Oba Matami continued to harass the complainant, leading to the charges filed in HCT/84R/2025 The State v. Oba Fatai Matanmi.

Similarly, the State filed HCT/77R/2025 The State v. Oba Yusuf Olasunkanmi containing charges of securing entry into land by violence against Oba Yusuf Olasunkanmi, the Olu of Orile-Igbon, a town in Igbesa area of Ogun State.

Oba Olasunkanmi, using intermediaries, unlawfully appropriated land belonging to the complainant and many other persons. Using cover of a judgment obtained against third parties, Oba Olasunkanmi commissioned the attachment of land and enforcement of the judgment in areas more than one kilometre away from the judgment land.

Oba Olasunkanmi chased away the legitimate occupants of the land. Oba Olasunkanmi will be arraigned on Thursday 25 September 2025.

Further, the State has also filed charges against another two persons Chief Lekan Agbogun and Chief Akinbowale Beckley who sold a complainant’s property in Mosafejo area of Abeokuta, without authority.

These persons connived and sold a third party’s property to a buyer overseas notwithstanding that they had no title claim or documents to the land and despite the presence of the complainant’s 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 the State’s commitment to tackle land grabbing and criminal dealings regarding land.

The State Government assured the public that no matter the personalities involved, where the facts warrant and it is in the public interest to do so, the State will resist and redress all land grabbing actions that come to its notice.