The alleged notorious land-grabber, Chief Kamorudeen Lamina, popularly known as ‘Sir K. Oluwo’, was on Thursday, June 15, 2017, sent to Badagry Prison over land matters.
Sir K was arraigned alongside six others on a six count charge by Special Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force set up by Governor Ambode’s administration.
Lamina and his gang were said to have been terrorising the people of Ikorodu area of the State for some time before he was arrested last Thursday, June 15.
Others arraigned alongside him are Mr. Omotola Ogunsanmi, Mr. Samson Shobule (a.k.a Samson Salau), Biliaminu Orega (a.k.a Biliaminu Salau), Alhaji Jimoh Aromasodu, Alhaji Wasiu Orenuga and Alhaji Nurudeen Kasali.
In counts one and two, Lamina, sometime in February, 2017 in Mowo Kekere area of Ikorodu Local Government, allegedly took over one plot of land forcefully, which was sold to one Mrs. Ebere Okafor by Ifegbuwa family contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Lagos State Properties Protection Law 2016.
The action was allegedly carried out by Lamina though the sale of the land had been ratified with proof of payment.
In count three, Lamina was accused of forcefully taking over and remaining in possession of 200 plots of land in Mowo Kekere belonging to Planet Properties Limited contrary to Section 2 (2) of the same law, while in count five, the defendants were said to have fraudulently sold 60 plots of land, which had been previously sold by the rightful owner contrary to Section 8 (I) (b) of the law.
The fraudulent sale, which was allegedly carried out in January, 2017, was perfected by the defendants, fraudulently claiming to be the descendants of Ifegbuwa family. In count six, the defendants were accused of fraudulently selling 25 hectares of land to third parties without any lawful right to do so, an offence punishable under the law.
After the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty, while their Lawyers, Mr. E. Obatayo and B.O Abdusalam applied to the court to grant them bail in most liberal terms.
The Lawyers argued that the offences for which their clients were charged were bailable, and that they were ready to defend the case.
The Prosecutor, Ms Mosunmola Balogun, from the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, did not oppose the bail application but urged the court to impose conditions, which would make the defendants available for trial
In his ruling, Magistrate Lateef Owolabi granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N1million and two sureties in like sum.
One of the sureties must be a land owner in Lagos, while the other must be a civil servant not below grade level 15. The sureties must have three years tax clearance and registration with Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA).
The Magistrate also ordered the defendants to deposit N150,000 each with the court, while they are to be remanded in Badagry Prison pending when they are able to meet the bail conditions.
The matter had been adjourned to July 13, 2017.
Speaking to Journalists at the end of the proceedings, Chairman of the Lagos State Anti-Land Grabbing Task Force, Mr. Jide Bakare, said the administration of Governor Ambode, through the arraignment, was sending strong message to others still involved in the act of forceful dispossession of property that it would no longer be business as usual.
It would be recalled that in our November 2016 edition, we had extensive interview with Sir K. on land matters, where he denied having any relationship with Ajagungbale and cultists or sponsoring criminals.
According to him, he said that anywhere he had property, all the documents would be administered by his administration department, adding that he had up to four Lawyers in his company.
He also said that he had a bigger office along Odogunyan, near Kadesh filling station and that by the grace of God, before December 30, 2016, he would open his own personal company in Ikorodu.
In his words, “I thank God for all He has done for me. My own prayer to God is that when I am fifty (50) years old, I would not do any work again. I am now forty eight (48) years of age and by the grace of God, I will be forty nine (49) by April 22, 2017. I have up to twenty two (22) houses in Lagos State and I have one hotel in Ikorodu, but I want to open another one at Ajah very soon.”
In another disclosure, he stated, I am not in the habit of going to Abuja for contracts. Police is a friend to everybody. I know nobody is above the law. If I have any skeleton in my cupboard or any relationship with any cultist, at least, one of them should have mentioned my name all these while, people have been accusing me of being their sponsor.
“In this company of mine, I have sacked two of my staff and also written personally to the police about them because of their behaviours. I don’t want anybody to tarnish my image,” he concluded.