An Osogbo magistrate court on Thursday, November 17, 2016 sentenced an 89-year-old man to 15 months imprisonment without any option of fine for land grabbing.
The convict Alabi Oyedele, was sentenced alongside 70-year-old Saka Oyedeji, 45-yer-old Ologunde Owodiran, and 55-year-old Olabisi Taiwo for conspiring among themselves to forcefully invade the land of one Jagun Oluwere compound in Okinni in Osun state and maliciously damaged the building structure erected in the compound.
The convicts pleaded guilty to three count charges of conspiracy, illegal possession and malicious destruction of another person’s land and property worth millions of naira.
The Prosecutor, one Inspector Joshua Oladoye, told the court that the convicts committed the offense on April 10, 2013 at Okinni town, Osun state.
The prosecutor said the convict and the head of the Jagun oluwere family had been at loggerhead over the land upon which the building was erected, adding that the offences committed contravened sections 516, 451, and 81 of the criminal code cap 34 vol.11 laws of Osun, 2003.
The Counsel to the convicts, Olaide Abiodun, prayed the Magistrate to temper justice with mercy in the delivery of her judgement.
The presiding Magistrate, Olowolagba Olubukola, ordered the convicts be kept behind bars due to the magnitude of the offences committed.
The convicts are to serve their 15 months terms at the Ilesa Prison without an option of fine to serve as deterrent to others.
In Ogun state, land grabbing attracts a 25-year jail term without options of fine, for those who violate this existing law of the state.
The Ogun State Governor, Ibikunle Amosun, recently signed into law, the bill prohibiting forceful takeover of land, by persons or group of individuals.