Osun govt bans monarch from land transactions

• The directive is to curtail frequent land grabbing allegations levelled against the monarch
•  Osun Government says many residents of Ile-Ogbo town, Eleni and Moomu Abimbola villages had written several petitions against the monarch
  

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The Osun State Government has banned the Olu of Ile-Ogbo, Oba Abeeb Adetoyese Agbaje, from participating in land transactions within his domain.

The ban directive was issued on Wednesday following his appearance before the Osun State Attorney General and Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Akande Oluwafemi Jimoh and Dosu Babatunde, respectively.

The state government maintained that the directive became necessary to curtail frequent land grabbing allegations levelled against the monarch within Ileogbo and surrounding villages.

Also, the government explained that many residents of Ile-Ogbo town, Eleni and Moomu Abimbola villages had written several petitions against the Oba Abeeb for his conduct of forceful acquisition and sales of subjects’ land, and subsequent intimidation of innocent landowners using the judiciary and the police.

According to the commissioners, “He was banned from participating in land transactions and using any of his palace cronies to engage in forceful acquisition of citizens’ land.

“He was told to warn his emissaries and accomplices, mostly the head of the Ile-Ogbo princes, Gbadewolu Oyelami Kasali and other chiefs he uses to perpetrate the illegality.

“Aside from numerous newspaper publications, we have received petitions against the Palace and office of the Olu of Ile-Ogbo, HRM Oba Abeeb Adetoyese Agbaje Arowo Okunjoye II for forceful land acquisition and sales.

“Most of those publications and petitions are pointing to the state government as an accomplice. Just two days ago, it was boldly written on the front page of The Guardian Newspaper, of helpless people seeking government intervention.

“To sustain the integrity of our government and ensure a peaceful atmosphere in Ile-Ogbo and adjoining villages, the Olu of Ileogbo should stop engaging in land transactions in whatever form within the Ayedire Local Government pending our investigation.

“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.”