ABEOKUTA – The Ogun State Ministry of Justice has issued a stern warning to the public regarding the activities of land grabbers operating on government-acquired land within the Odogbolu Local Government Area.
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade (SAN), released a statement on Thursday, revealing the discovery of a “fraudulent and improperly obtained Customary Court judgment” being used by these individuals to deceive prospective land buyers.
The ministry’s investigation began following a petition from descendants of the Fibiwoga Family, who claimed rightful ownership of a 350-acre land parcel. However, further scrutiny revealed that the land in question is, in fact, government-owned.
“Further investigation of the complaints and scrutiny of the documents provided by these complainants showed that the land in question is government land,” Ogungbade stated. “Also, two large Ogun State University properties are located on separate parts of the land, while other allottees of the State Government are on other parts. The entirety of the land claimed by the Fibiwoga Family falls within government acquisition and encroaches on government-occupied land.”
The Attorney General highlighted several irregularities in the Customary Court judgment, including the exclusion of the Ogun State Government, lack of notice to named defendants, and a trial and judgment occurring on the same day. He also noted that the judgment lacked a clear description of the land awarded and that the survey plan presented by the Fibiwoga Family was not referenced in the court’s orders.
“The judgment obtained at the Customary Court was both fraudulently and improperly obtained, because the complainants who approached that court as plaintiffs knew that the land did not belong to them but proceeded nonetheless to obtain same, while excluding the State Government who had obvious interest on the land,” Ogungbade explained.
The ministry further alleged that the Fibiwoga Family, acting through a developer named Obatob Properties Limited, is currently advertising the land for residential estate development.
The Ogun State Ministry of Justice has announced its intention to set aside the fraudulent judgment. In the meantime, the public is strongly advised to exercise caution and thoroughly examine any land transactions in the described area.
“The public is hereby put on notice that the claims of the Fibiwoga Family to 350 acres of land along Lagos Road, Apere Oba via Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State are fictitious, fraudulent, and baseless,” Ogungbade warned. “Any person who deals with either entity or any other private person regarding the land does so at their own peril, and at the risk of a firm government response.”
