The Lagos State Government has said it has recovered the property of a sexagenarian couple, Matthew and Abiodun Adeoye, which was seized by land-grabbers.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), stated this at a press briefing where he gave an account of his stewardship to commemorate the first anniversary of the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration.
PUNCH Metro had reported that the couple became an Internet sensation as the video of their appeal for help concerning the activities of land-grabbers went viral.
The couple, who stated that they had to abandon their homes following repeated threats from the land-grabbers, alleged that some operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Abuja, led the land-grabbers to forcefully occupy their property, which was being used as a car park for an events centre being run by them.
They said Matthew was abducted by the land-grabbers when he confronted them on why they were building on the piece of land located at No. 33 Egbe-Ejigbo Road, Oke-Afa area of the state.
Abiodun had told PUNCH Metro that trouble started on April 18, 2019, when the land-grabbers invaded the land and destroyed their property and started erecting a structure on it on the same day.
According to her, all efforts to get the land back had proved abortive as the alleged land-grabbers had become evasive.
After the couple’s appeal, Onigbanjo, who is also the Chairman of the Special Task Force on Land Grabbers, ordered an investigation into the matter.
The commissioner said the couple had returned to their property and the land-grabbers charged.
He stated, “Immediately we saw their appeal on the social media, we invited them over and got the police to arrest the land-grabbers, and with the help of the Ministry of Physical Planning, the building that the land-grabbers built was demolished and the property was returned to the couple.
“Three alleged land-grabbers have been charged even though the police have been unable to apprehend them, but a warrant of arrest has been issued for their arrest.”
Onigbanjo also said the state government would soon enact the Victims Right Law that would enable victims to receive urgent medical attention in hospitals across the state.
According to him, the law will enable hospitals in the state to render first aid to patients regardless of their circumstances, before they will refer them.