Police Arrest Traditional Ruler In Southwest Nigeria Over N15.5m Land Fraud

Nezzy Nae, Nigeria

The Police in Ogun State, Southwest Nigeria, on Tuesday said they have arrested a traditional ruler, Chief Muyideen Folorunso, who is the Baale of Ferowa, an agrarian  community in Ifo Local Government Area of the state, in connection with N15.5 m fraudulent land deal.

F olorunso was said to have sold a portion of land measuring 23 acres and situating in his domain  to a firm in real estate business, Jaxmat Homes and Properties, at an agreed price of N15.5m naira but the transaction went awry soon after the deal was sealed.

The traditional ruler was said to have began selling the same land to other buyers after he had received N15.5m naira payment from Jaxmat Homes and Properties to the consternation of the real estate firm.

The short - changed firm quickly reported the case at the Ogun State Police Command, detailing how after it had approached  Baale Folorunso for the purchase of the 23 acres of land and paid him, the Chief began to resell same to other buyers.

The Daily Crucible gathered that the traditional ruler allegedly sold 17 out of the 23 acres of land to different people at the time of discovery by the firm.

The Police Public Relations Officer in Ogun State, Abimbola Oyeyemi, who confirmed this, disclosed that the  Bureau of Public complaints unit of the Police Command, investigated the case and arrested the chief, saying the  suspect (the Chief) has admitted collecting the alleged N15.5m  from the firm after showing it the land. 

The Police Spokesman added that the suspect claimed to have resells the land when he needed money for his coronation ceremony in respect of his traditional office.

But the Commissioner of police, Ahmed Iliyasu, has directed that the case  should  be thoroughly investigated and suspect arraigned in court in accordance with the anti - land grabbing laws of Ogun state.

In Ogun State, fraudulent land transaction is a criminal offence and attracts terms of imprisonment if one is found guilty.

The law which was passed by the state House of Assembly in 2016 and accented to by the Governor same year, prohibits forcible entry and occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties.