From Lateef Dada, Osogbo
Osun State Government has expressed displeasure over frequent allegations of land grabbing against the Olu of Ile-Ogbo, Oba Abeeb Agbaje, and thereby banned him from participating in land transactions in his domain.
Findings showed that the monarch was summoned to a meeting where the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Dosu Babatunde, and his counterpart in the Ministry of Justice, Jimi Bada, cautioned the monarch and warned him never to involve in the sales of land in his domain.
It was gathered that there were frequent allegations of land grabbing by the monarch that led to the summon by the state government.
A source close to the meeting said the monarch was told that some families from Ile-Ogbo township, Eleni and Moomu Abimbola villages had written several petitions against the monarch on alleged forceful acquisition and sales of land, and subsequent intimidation of innocent landowners using the judiciary and the police.
He has thereby been banned from participating in land transactions and using any of his palace cronies to engage in forceful acquisition of citizens’ land.
“We have set up a committee to investigate and come up with reports and recommendations. The warning should be respected. Anyone whose land has been taken unjustly or forcefully should not hesitate to get across through the Osun State Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs,” the monarch warned.
When contacted, the monarch confirmed that he appeared before the state government and they promised to investigate the allegations against him.
