The Chairman of the Oyo State Real Properties Protection Law Agency Task Force Unit, Justice Olajumoke Aiki (retd), has dispelled misconceptions about the agency’s functions, stating that it does not adjudicate on land matters but focuses on investigating and addressing criminal infractions related to land ownership and transactions.
Justice Aiki made the clarification during a television programme in Ibadan, as contained in a statement issued on Thursday by the Oyo State Commissioner for Information, Prince Dotun Oyelade.
According to her, the agency’s core mandate is to conduct thorough and comprehensive investigations into land-related offences and take appropriate actions in line with the provisions of the Oyo State Real Properties Protection Law 2016.
“This agency does not rule on land matters as it is not a court of law or a mediation centre. People have lots of misconceptions about our work here.
Our task is basically to carry out thorough and comprehensive investigations into land and other related property disputes,” she explained.
Justice Aiki further noted that the agency works in close collaboration with several security and regulatory bodies, including the Amotekun Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Surveyor-General, the Ministry of Lands, the Bureau of Physical Planning and Environmental Development, and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters.
She said this inter-agency collaboration ensures fairness and due process in handling sensitive land matters.
“This collaborative approach with security agencies to carry out thorough investigations, which is our major responsibility in land-related disputes, is borne out of the dream of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, in ridding the state of land grabbing,” she added.
The retired jurist also disclosed that legal officers from the Ministry of Justice are part of the task force’s operations to ensure strict adherence to the rule of law during investigations, preparation of legal advice, and prosecution of offenders.
“We have lawyers from the Ministry of Justice who carry out due diligence in compliance with the rule of law and prepare legal advice based on investigations to determine who will be charged to court,” she said.
Justice Aiki identified common violations of the Real Properties Protection Law to include forceful land entry, fraudulent land sales or purchases, illegal demolition of structures, and issuing violent threats to legitimate property owners. She therefore urged members of the public to conduct proper verification before acquiring land to avoid falling victim to land fraud.
Commending Governor Seyi Makinde for his continuous support, Aiki said the agency has received all necessary operational backing to deliver on its mandate. She also emphasized the agency’s ongoing public enlightenment campaigns through radio, television, and print media to educate residents about the dangers of land grabbing and the agency’s role in curbing it.
