Ogun Traditional Ruler Arrested, Arraigned in Court Over Alleged Land Grabbing
ABEOKUTA – The Baale of Idiya Community in Abeokuta, Chief Quadri Kudaisi has been arrested and charged to Court over allegation of land grabbing.
The police arrested the traditional ruler after multiple petitions were 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 police arraigned the Baale on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 at the Magistrate Court, Isabo for charges related to allegation of land grabbing in violation of Ogun State Anti-Land Grabbing Law.
While appearing before the court, magistrate Sotayo granted Chief Kudaisi bail in the sum of N2 million with two sureties.
The case has been adjourned to August 10, 2024.
The case has drawn attention following a petition submitted by Jamiu Folarin, a journalist and researcher over the matter.
Folarin’s petition, initially filed at the Sabo/Ilupeju police station, highlighted threats to his life and malicious damage to his property.
He attributed 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 was subsequently transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at Eleweran.
BudgIT, a civic organization 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.
Similarly, the Crescent University Cooperative Society (CRESCOOPS) also petitioned the Land Grabbing Committee over allegation of land grabbing against the Baale.
Also, the owner of the expanse of the land who sold to the CRESCOOPS, Chief Sonaiki also submitted another petition against the traditional ruler.
The outcome of the hearing is anticipated to have significant implications for land rights and the enforcement of justice in the State.
The case against Baale Kudaisi Quadri underscores the ongoing struggle against illegal land acquisition and the need for vigilant enforcement of property rights.
It would be recalled that the Senator Ibikunle Amosun administration assent the Anti-land grabbing bill into law in 2015 criminalising the activities of land grabbers in Ogun State.