Don’t Send Anybody to Me, Magistrate Warns Parties in Land Grabbing Suit

Magistrate Lateef Owolabi of the Special Offences Court sitting in Oshodi, has warned parties in a land-grabbing suit filed by the Lagos State Government against suspected land grabbers, Chief Kamorudeen Lamina aka Sir-K Oluwo and seven others.

Lamina and others suspects, Mr. Omotola Ogunsanmi, Mr. Samson Shobule aka (Samson Salau), Mr. Biliaminu Orega (aka Biliaminu Salau), Mr. Yekini Soyebo, Alhaji Jimoh Aromasodu, Alhaji Wasiu Orenuga and Alhaji Nurudeen Kasali, were arraigned before the court on June 16, 2017 on a six-count charge of land grabbing activities.

According to the Prosecutor, Mrs. M.M Balogun of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the Defendants were charged following a petition to the State Government by Planets Properties Ltd.

The State accused the Defendants of committing the offences in February, 2017 in Mowo Kekere in Ikorodu area of the State, by forcefully taking over a plot of land sold to one Mrs. Ebere Okafor by the Ifegbuwa Family, despite evidence that the land was properly acquired by Mrs. Okafor.

The offences, according to the State are contrary to Section 2(1) (2), Section 4 and Section 8 (1) (b) of the Lagos State Property Protection Law 2016.

At the resumed trial of the matter last week, the Magistrate lamented openly and sounded words of warnings to all parties, to stop sending people to him nor to offer him anything.

"Don't send anyone to anyone, don't send anybody to anybody, if you are sending anyone to me you are wasting your money, please, keep that shit to yourself we don’t do it here. If you are sending anyone to anyone, you are doing Saara. I hope you know the meaning of Saara. We are committed to what we do here, we don't need your money.

"We don't receive money from anyone to settle any matter, but only do our job as required by the law. If you want settlement out of court, it is the Complainant you should approach, don't come here”, he said.

Chief Lamina was reported to have gone behind to offer money to the Prosecutor who rejected the offer, and warned him to desist from such an irresponsible and dirty act.

Magistrate Owolabi has adjourned the case February 20, 2018 for continuation of trial.