Ogun Community Head Arraigned In Court Over Allegation of Land Grabbing In Abeokuta

The Baale of Idiya Community in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, Chief Quadri Kudaisi has been arrested and arraigned in Court for his alleged involvement in land grabbing matter 

Kudaisi was arrested by the police, following several petitions received by the Ogun State Land Grabbing Committee and the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) at the State headquarters of the Nigerian Police, Eleweran.

The police later arraigned him on Wednesday, July 10, 2024 before the Magistrate Court in Isabo, Abeokuta , where he is now facing charges including allegation of land grabbing punishable under the Ogun State Anti-Land Grabbing Law.

The court presided over by Magistrate Sotayo, however granted  Kudaisi bail in the sum of  N2 million with two sureties, while adjourning further hearing on the matter till 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 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.

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 community leader 

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 assented to the Anti-land grabbing bill into law in 2015 which criminalises the activities of land grabbers in Ogun State.