Community Head arraigned over alleged landgrabbing, threat to life of journalist
The Head of Idiya Community in Abeokuta, Chief Quadri Kudaisi has been arrested and charged to Court over multiple petitions against him which bothers on alleged land grabbing and threat to life of a journalist.
Penpushing reports that police effected arrest of the Baale following series of petitions submitted to the Ogun State Land Grabbing Committee and the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at the State headquarters of the Nigerian Police, Eleweran.
The local Chief was subsequently arraigned on Wednesday, at the Magistrate Court, Isabo, Abeokuta, Ogun State Charge for offence known to be in violation of Ogun State Anti-Land Grabbing Law, while record has it that the case has drawn attention following a petition submitted by Jamiu Folarin, a journalist and researcher over the matter.
Penpushing further reports that Folarin’s petition, initially filed at the Sabo/Ilupeju police station, highlighted threats to his life and malicious damage to his property, attributing the threat to his life and malicious damage to his property to the investigation he conducted as journalists on criminal activities of land grabbers in Ogun State.
The case it is recalled was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Eleweran, and in similar vein, BudgIT, a civic organisation also wrote the Ogun State Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alamutu, calling for investigation of the matter leading to the threat to life and malicious damage to the property of one of its 2023 GovSpend Media Fellows, Jamiu Folarin.
Penpushing also reports that, similarly, the Crescent University Cooperative Society (CRESCOOPS) petitioned the Land Grabbing Committee over allegation of land grabbing against the local chief, while the owner of the expanse of the land who sold to the Crescent University Cooperative Society (CRESCOOPS), Chief Sonaiki equally submitted another petition against Kudaisi.
The outcome of the hearing is anticipated to have significant implications for land rights and the enforcement of justice in the State, while the case against the Baale underscores the ongoing struggle against illegal land acquisition and the need for vigilant enforcement of property rights.
Penpushing reports that when the case came up on Wednesday Magistrate Sotayo, granted the accused bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties, and thereafter adjourned hearing to August 10, 2024.
Meanwhile, the former Governor of Ogun State Senator Ibikunle Amosun, it will be recalled assent the Anti-land grabbing bill into law in 2015 criminalising the activities of land grabbers in Ogun State.
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