Ogun Govt Faults Interference In Ongoing Land Grabbing Prosecution
Ogun State government has warned a senior police officer attached to the Force Intelligence Department, Abuja, assistant inspector-general of police, Enyinnaya Adioguto, to stop what it described as a parallel investigation into an ongoing land grabbing case involving the World Mission Agency (WMA), owners of Living Faith Church Worldwide in Sango-Ota.
In a letter dated 23rd May, the Ogun State attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, warned the officer against investigating allegations of criminal conspiracy, threat to life, and illegal possession of firearms reportedly lodged against the mission by one Ibrahim Gbenga Ibuoye.
The government said Ibuoye is currently facing prosecution before a Magistrates’ Court in Abeokuta over allegations bordering on forceful entry into another person’s land, forceful takeover of land, and the use of threats and violence in connection with the disputed property.
According to Ogungbade, the matter is already before a competent court, making any parallel police investigation improper and capable of undermining judicial proceedings.
“It is settled law that when a case is pending in court, no person must take any steps calculated to or capable of usurping the jurisdiction of the court,” the Attorney General stated.
He questioned why a defendant who has been standing trial since 2025 would suddenly turn himself into a complainant against those involved in the pending criminal matter.
The commissioner accused Ibuoye of disregarding the rule of law by approaching the Force Headquarters and presenting himself as a complainant after allegedly trespassing on land belonging to WMA — land which the government said is backed by valid ownership documents and approvals issued by the Ogun State Government.
Providing background to the dispute, Ogungbade explained that WMA reportedly acquired the land around 2001 from a family recognised by the Ogun State High Court as the rightful owner. The organisation subsequently fenced the property.
He alleged, however, that Ibuoye and another suspect unlawfully demolished the fence, forcefully occupied over 100 acres of the land, and carried out illegal sand mining activities that severely degraded the property.
The Ogun State government consequently directed the police officer to terminate any ongoing parallel investigation into the dispute, withdraw all invitations issued to WMA officials, and comply with the Inspector General of Police’s directives against the duplication of case files.
The state government also acknowledged the efforts of successive Inspectors General of Police in curbing abuse of police processes and discouraging parallel investigations in matters already before competent courts. It specifically commended the immediate past police leadership of Kayode Egbetokun and the current Inspector General of Police, Olatunji Disu, for their commitment to professionalism and for their efforts to put a stop to the kind of conduct complained of in the letter.
المصدر: Leadership (Nigeria)