Police Arraign 2 Suspected Land Speculators Over Forcible Takeover Of Property

The Ogun State Police Command has arraigned two suspected members of a land-grabbing syndicate before a Magistrates’ Court over allegations of forcible entry into landed property, malicious damage, and conduct likely to cause a breach of public peace at Kodo village in the Abeokuta metropolis of the state capital.

The suspects, 46-year-old Owolabi Olayinka and 53-year-old Abiodun Oluwasegun Fatokun, alongside others at large, were brought before Magistrates’ Court 1 sitting in Isabo area of Abeokuta on a 4-count charge in suit No. The Commissioner of Police instituted MK/506/2026 in the state.

According to the charge sheet, a copy of which was obtained by LEADERSHIP, the prosecution counsel, Olu Balogun Lawrence, accused the duo of Owolabi and Fatokun, alongside others now at large, of conspiring to forcefully enter into a landed property situated at the Kondo Village in the Ewekoro Local Government Area, which belonged to one Oluwafemi Folarin, “to take over the property forcefully”.

The prosecution further informed the court that the accused maliciously damaged the perimeter fencing of the landed property, valued at N3.5 million at the village, an action said to be contrary to and punishable under the appropriate sections of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State.

The charge sheet reads in part: “that you Owolabi Olayinka,  Abiodun Oluwasegun Fatokun and others at large, on on 15 April 2026, at 1200 hrs, at Kondo Village, Ile-Ise Panu area of Abeokuta in the Abeokuta Magisterial District did conduct yourself in a manner likely to cause the breach of public peace by bringing hoodlums to Kondo Village to disrupt the peace of the community, thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 249 (D) of the Criminal Code Laws of Ogun State of Nigeria (2006)”.

Meanwhile, the defendants pleaded not guilty to all 4 counts after the charges were read to them in the language they understood best.

The trial Magistrate Court 1, presided over by Magistrate Adejoke K. Araba, thereafter admitted the defendants to bail in the sum of N1 Million, with one surety in like sum each.

She said that one of the sureties must, however, be among the licensed bondsmen. At the same time, the other must be a family member living within the jurisdiction of the Magistrate’s Court, with evidence of 3 years’ tax payment to the Ogun State government.

The Magistrate consequently adjourned the matter to 28 July 2026 for trial.