The Chairman of the Oyo State Real Properties Protection Law Agency Task Force Unit, Justice Olajumoke Aiki (rtd), has clarified public misconceptions surrounding the operations of the agency, especially in its efforts to combat land grabbing and other related offences across the state.
Justice Aiki made this clarification while featuring on a television programme in Ibadan.
According to her, the agency’s primary mandate is to conduct thorough investigations into land-related criminal allegations and take appropriate actions under the Oyo State Real Properties Protection Law 2016 based on the outcome of such investigations.
In her words, “This agency does not rule on land matters as it is not a court of law or mediation centre. People have lots of misconception about our work here. Our task is basically to carry out thorough and comprehensive investigations on land and other related properties’ disputes. The Real Properties Protection Law 2016 that established the agency provides proper clarification on our tasks regarding land and other related properties’ disputes,” she clarified.
Justice Aiki noted that the Task Force Unit operates in close collaboration with relevant security agencies and other governmental and institutional bodies, including the Amotekun Corps, the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the Ministry of Justice, the Office of the Surveyor-General, the Ministry of Lands, Bureau of Physical Planning and Environmental Development and the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters. These collaborations, she said, ensure justice and fairness in the investigations of land issues due to the sensitive nature of such disputes.
“This collaborative approach with security agencies to carry out thorough investigations, which is our major responsibility in land-related disputes, is borne out of the dream of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Oyo State, in ridding the state of land grabbing,” she stressed.
The retired jurist added that the agency’s operations also involve legal officers from the Ministry of Justice, who ensure compliance with the rule of law in the investigations, preparation of legal advices and prosecution of offenders under the enabling law.
She explained, “We also have lawyers from the Ministry of Justice who carry out due diligence in compliance with the rule of law and also prepare legal advices based on the investigations in order to determine who will be charged to court for trial or otherwise. Basically, we receive petitions and we carry out thorough investigations on them as required by law.”
Justice Aiki also identified potential violators of the Real Properties Protection Law to include individuals involved in forceful entry into others’ lands, fraudulent sales or purchases of land (whether government or private), illegal destruction of landed property, violent threats against rightful owners, among others. She therefore advised the public to always conduct proper verification before purchasing lands.
While commenting on the efforts of the agency since inception, she commended Governor ‘Seyi Makinde for his unwavering backing of the agency’s work with every operational needs.
On public awareness of the agency’s roles, Justice Aiki stated that the agency has continued to adopt enlightenment campaigns through radio, television, and print media to educate the public on landgrabbing related issues.
“Someone from Osun State once called me from Osogbo that he heard the agency’s jingle while listening to a radio station from Ibadan. This cuts across all the geo-political zones of Oyo State,” she recalled.
Speaking on procedures for petition submission, she explained that both the collection and submission of petition forms are free of charge, including legal representation when criminal cases are taken to court, alluding this to the directive of Governor Makinde.
“Our forms collection and submission are free. We are even working on designing a web portal where people can obtain, fill in, and submit their forms while physical interaction with petitioners and respondents will only be arranged when and where necessary,” she disclosed.
On the agency’s achievements since commencing full operations in 2023 after skeletal works in 2022 when the agency was inaugurated, she revealed that over 3,500 forms have been collected, with more than 2,500 returned, and nearly 1,000 petitions concluded within the past two years.
While acknowledging some teething challenges, Justice Aiki expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for his steadfast support and provision of resources necessary for the agency’s smooth operation.
“With the help of God and the support of our amiable Governor, Engr. ‘Seyi Makinde, we keep surmounting every obstacle. The governor supports and provides us with every operational need to make our work run smoothly. We also enjoy the support and cooperation of our security operatives as well as other stakeholders. It has been a good collaboration between us all,” she stated.
She further noted that the task force operatives of the agency are seasoned professionals who undergo regular training to enhance their efficiency and effectiveness in handling land-related disputes.
Justice Aiki also clarified that there is no conflict between the operations of the committee recently set up by the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Rashidi Ladoja, to mediate on land matters and the agency’s functions, explaining that both bodies have distinct mandates.
According to her, while the Olubadan’s committee focuses on mediation, the agency is empowered by law to address the criminal aspects of land-related offences.
She therefore cautioned individuals and groups involved in land grabbing and other related matters to desist from such acts, reiterating the agency’s commitment to ensuring fairness, justice, and due process in handling all petitions brought before it and tackling the menace of land grabbing and related offences across Oyo State.
It should also be noted that to further enhance the operations of the agency, on the 3rd of November, 2025, the operational vehicles approved for the agency by Governor ‘Seyi Makinde were released.
E-signed:
Prince Dotun Oyelade,
Commissioner for Information,
Oyo State.
November 6, 2025.
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