The Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Adewolu Ladoja, has called for urgent legal reforms to address the growing challenge of land grabbing across Ibadan. The monarch made the appeal on Wednesday at the Olubadan Palace in Oke-Aremo while receiving the report of the Anti-Land Grabbing Committee led by Chief Niyi Akintola.
Oba Ladoja emphasized that existing mechanisms are insufficient to curb the menace, stressing the need for stronger legal backing. He proposed that local government legislative councils enact bye-laws, in line with the Land Use Act, to establish special tribunals that would ensure the swift handling of land-related disputes and enforce strict penalties against offenders.
The monarch expressed concern over the increasing sophistication of fraudulent land claims, citing a recent incident where a suspect presented a purported 1912 Supreme Court judgment to claim ownership of land in Oluyole Local Government Area. He described such claims as fraudulent and unacceptable, noting that documents predating Nigeria’s 1914 amalgamation cannot be considered valid.
Oba Ladoja also condemned the use of fake survey plans and the growing trend of filing false petitions to manipulate legal and security institutions. He warned that individuals engaging in such practices must face sanctions, adding that the persistent crisis has negatively impacted Ibadan’s investment climate and undermined public trust in land administration.
Earlier, Chief Niyi Akintola revealed that the committee received 179 memoranda, alongside more than 25 additional submissions awaiting review. He described land grabbing as a coordinated activity involving networks with links to key institutions, noting that the committee engaged widely with stakeholders but identified deep systemic flaws requiring urgent attention.
