Court sentences land grabbers to 24 years imprisonment, orders return of property

BLESSING AKOROWOSI, Osogbo

An Osun State High Court sitting in Ede has sentenced two land grabbers to 24 years imprisonment.

The convicts; Aborisade Tope Oluwaseyi and Omoloye Adetunji were found guilty of sundry offences.

They were arraigned before the Court on January, 20th 2022 and charged with seven counts charge bordering on the following; Counts-(1) conspiracy contrary to section 8 and punishable under 1(3) of the Advance fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, 2006.

Count2 -Obtaining property by false pretence contrary to section 1(1),(a),(b), (c)and (2) and punishable under section 1 (3) of Advance Fee Fraud and Other Related Offences Act, Cap. A6, Volume 1, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2006.

Count 3-Cheating contrary to and punishable under Section 421 of the Criminal Code, Cap. 34 Volume 2, Laws of Osun State, 2002.

Count 4- Fraudulent Land Agent contrary to and punishable under section 6(1-3) of the Land grabbing Law of Osun State.

Count 5- Sale of Landed Property Without Lawful Authority of Owner contrary to Section 9(1), (a), (b), (c)  of the land grabbing Law of Osun State.

Count 6- Forcible Entry contrary to and punishable under Section 3 of Osun State Forcibly Entry and illegal Occupation of Landed properties (Prohibition) Law, 2019.

Count -7 Malicious damage contrary to and punishable under Section 451 of the Criminal Code, Cap.34, Volume 2, Law of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002. Upon their arraignment the defendants pleaded not guilty to all the Seven (7) counts charge preferred against them.

During the trial, Prosecuting Counsel from the Ministry of Justice, Barrister Dele Akintayo, told the Court that between 1st of January, 2016 and 31st of December, 2020 at Ayedun Community, Arulogun extension, Ede, Osun State, one Adekunle Emmanuel Beyioku ‘M’ bought two acres of land sometimes in 2011 and he took physical  possession of the land and he informed his friend Aborisade Oluwaseyi  that he bought a landed property at Ede and he took the Aborisade to the landed property.

Barr Dele Akintayo further stated that Adekunle Emmanuel Beyioku bought the land to build ultra modern estate in the future and he had perfected all the necessary documents such as land sale’s agreement with vendor, Survey plan of that land and Certificate of Occupancy granted by the Governor of Osun State.

“Adekunle Emmanuel Beyioku, PW 2 told the Court that Aborisade Tope Oluwaseyi to supervise erection of beacons and corner pieces on the land and to inspect the land on his behalf and protect it from trespassers and land grabbers when he  later travelled outside of Nigeria to Dubai, United Arab Emirates for years.

Prosecuting counsel, also informed the Court that Adekunle Emmanuel  Beyioku got information through his brother that the land he bought had been fraudulently sold by the defendants without his consent and authority upon his visit to the scene of crime.

Akintayo , further addressed the Court that having visited land by the victim’s brother  and his friend when they found out that the two acres of land of Adekunle Emmanuel Beyioku which was purchased by him was fraudulently sold by the Aborisade and the buildings are on the foundation level.

They reported the matter to the police on behalf of his friend Adekunle Emmanuel Beyioku, the police investigation officer of the case, Sgt Adetunji Adejare started the investigation of the case and he visited the Scene of crime and found out that corner pieces and beacons erected by the owner was  damaged by convicts.

Prosecuting Counsel called four (4) witnesses and tendered eleven (11) exhibits  to proof his case before the Court. The four (4) prosecution witnesses confirmed that Aborisade Tope Oluwaseyi and Omoloye Adetunji (a.k.a woli /Pastor Karonwi ) fraudulently sold the land to unknown buyers without the consent and authority of the owner.

The presiding judge, Honourable Justice Kudirat Akano read the judgment and held that Prosecuting Counsel has proved his case beyond reasonable doubt  against the  Aborisade Tope Oluwaseyi and convicted him on six counts and relieved him on count one, while Omoloye was discharged and acquitted on all the seven (7)counts charge by the Court.

Honourable Justice Akano sentenced Aborisade accordingly,

Count 2 – 7years imprisonment,

Count 3 – 2 years imprisonment,

Count 4- 1 year imprisonment with fine of one million naira,

Count 5 – 7 years imprisonment with one million naira fine and the convict is to return the landed property to the owner,

Count 6 – 5 years imprisonment,

Count 7 – 2 years imprisonment, the sentenced will be served concurrently

The Court also ordered by the way of restitution that the landed property should be returned to the owner.

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