Ogun Arraigns Suspended Monarch For Alleged Land Grabbing, N75Million Fraud
Owolabi, a coronet Oba and member of the Egba Traditional Council, is currently suspended from his position as the traditional ruler of Obafemi in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of the state.
The Ogun State Government has arraigned the suspended Olu of Obafemi, Oba Taofeek Owolabi, over a series of criminal allegations bordering on land grabbing, fraud, and assault.
Owolabi, a coronet Oba and member of the Egba Traditional Council, is currently suspended from his position as the traditional ruler of Obafemi in Obafemi/Owode Local Government Area of the state.
According to a statement released by the Ogun State Ministry of Justice on Wednesday, the embattled monarch was dragged before a court on charges including conspiracy to sell property without authority, unlawful sale of land, use of unauthorised agents, forceful land takeover, assault of a police officer, and obtaining money under false pretences.
The government revealed that the monarch allegedly laid an unlawful claim to 500 acres of land in Obafemi Owode town and fraudulently collected N75 million from a property developer, Dr. Michael Adeyemi, under the pretext of a legitimate land transaction.
“Oba Owolabi never remitted the sum to the rightful landholding families,” the Ministry said.
“He placed armed thugs on the land, who macheted an individual, and he personally attacked a police officer from the task force on land grabbing.”
The Ministry emphasised that despite multiple interventions and warnings, the monarch refused to cooperate with authorities.
The statement read, “The Ogun State House of Assembly invited Oba Owolabi in July 2024 to respond to these allegations. Rather than appear, he filed two lawsuits, which the Ministry of Justice successfully defended.
“Although he later withdrew those cases, he still refused to participate in the legislative inquiry.”
The House Committee ultimately recommended Oba Owolabi for prosecution.
Traditional institutions also tried to intervene, but to no avail.
“Under the leadership of the Alake of Egbaland, Oba Adedotun Gbadebo, the Egba Traditional Council summoned Oba Owolabi several times. He defied every invitation,” the statement continued.
“The Ethical Committee of the Council also made efforts to engage him, which failed. Consequently, on December 13, 2024, he was suspended for conduct unbecoming of a traditional ruler.”
Despite being granted bail, Oba Owolabi’s trial is ongoing, and the state government has vowed to see the case through.
“We will like to assure all members of the public to keep faith with our efforts to restore sanity to land administration in Ogun State and to draw confidence from our resolve to prosecute Oba Owolabi.
“As long as it is in our power to do so, we will resist all land grabbers, no matter how highly placed they appear to be.”
