Edo Govt to Set up Specialised Court for Property Offenses

The Edo State Government has revealed plans to set up a specialised court across the state as part of its ongoing efforts to attract more investors in the property development sector.

This much was disclosed by former Inspector General of Police, IGP, and Chairman, Edo State Private Property Protection Task Force, Dr. Solomon Arase, at the Government House in Benin City, on the state’s efforts at creating the enabling environment for investors in property development.

“The state governor has promised to speed up the process to create specialised courts which will enable us prosecute individuals and groups involved in illegal land allocation which stifles economic development,” Arase said.

The thinking in Edo State government circle is that the specialised courts will assist in the speedy and timely dispensation of property-related legal matters which is a basic requirement in attracting investors into the state’ property sector. Investors are believed to be discouraged from investing in the state because of the activities of the outlawed Community Development Associations (CDAs).

Dr. Arase further said that the state is also making efforts to rehabilitate members of the outlawed CDAs through the setting up of farms and technical institutions across the state to provide the youths who were members of the CDAs with skills and better means of livelihood.

The former IGP stated also that the taskforce is also collaborating with traditional institutions to sanitise the process of allocating landed property to developers.

The chairman commended the synergy between the state governor and the Oba of Benin in creating the legal framework to address the chaotic and illegal activities of the CDAs which worked against the growth of the state in the past.