The Lagos State Special Taskforce on Land Grabbers has faulted claims that its performances have fallen short of expectations since May 2019.
It described the suggestions, allegedly made by a former Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) 2nd Vice President, Mr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, as “unsubstantiated comparisons”.
In a statement, the Taskforce said Ubani did not consider that between June 2018 to May 2019, it handled 767 cases, out of which 314 were resolved and 76 charged to court, while from June 2019 till date, 1,012 cases were handled, with 503 resolved and 85 under prosecution.
The statement referenced a 17 June, 2020, publication wherein Ubani was said to have tasked Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on the resurgence of Land Grabbers in Lagos State.
He was also said to have further made a comparison between the administrations of Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and that of former governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, relating to measures in place to address land grabbing in the state.
But, responding to the claims, the Taskforce said: “Regrettably, however, Mr. Ubani failed to substantiate his assertions with the analysis which led to the conclusions made in his statement. Clearly, such unsubstantiated comparisons are a matter of conjecture which does not reflect current realities.
“Mr. Ubani further referred to an incident in which the property of his client was, according to him, invaded by some notorious land grabbers and his petition to the Police resolved the issue. Notably, Mr. Ubani did not report this to the office of Task Force on Land Grabbers to have enabled the office investigate his allegations in line with the Lagos State Property Protection Law 2016.”
“Efforts have been doubled and the office of Taskforce on Land Grabbers recorded successes, notably among its recent successes (to mention a few) is that of the Adeoye family and Ajah community Developers owing to the intervention of the Task force on Land Grabbers, they are now safely back in their properties.
“These and many other successes have been recorded in the Sanwo-Olu administration and it is inappropriate for Mr. Ubani to make such unsubstantiated assertions.”
The Taskforce urged Lagos residents who have cases or petitions of land grabbing to “utilize the mechanism provided in the Property Protection Law to enable the State continue to checkmate unsavory incidence of Land Grabbing.
“Members of the public may address their petitions to the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice or contact us on 09096667123, 09020085005 or omoonileTF@lagosstate.gov.ng, omoonileTF@gmail.com .
“All services provided by the task force are free.”