Good News , the Lagos State House of Assembly on Tuesday, July 19, 2016, passed a Bill to prohibit forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties in the state by Landgrabbers populalry known as Omo Onile.
According to the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, after the Bill had gone through the third reading and finally passed by a voice vote of all members present at plenary session, told the acting Clerk of the House, Mr. Azeez Sanni, to forward a clean copy of the bill to the state Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, for his assent.
According to the provisions of the bill, landgrabbers can now face a maximum and minimum of 21 and five year imprisonment respectively if convicted.
There are also various fine impositions for individuals or groups convicted of the offence.
The bill provides for prohibition of forceful land take over, entry by force, illegal occupation of property, use of land agents, illegal use of Law enforcement agents, encroaching with a weapon, sales of property without authority and professional misconduct among others with their attendant punishments as regards the particular offence.
The law was read a third time on plenary through a motion moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade.
The passage of this bill into law in Lagos State is a huge step towards a lasting solution to the activities of the landgrabbers, popularly known as Omo Oniles or Ajagungbales which have become an age long menace in the state.
The law prohibits the incessant forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conducts in relation to landed properties in Lagos State and for connected purposes.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, urged Governor Ambode to sign the bill into law for enforcement.
It is imperative therefore to mention that this bill was proposed in 2010 as a private member bill, sponsored by Hon.Sanai Agunbiade in conjunction with Hon.Bayo Oshinowo.
The bill went through different stages and thwarted at different times. The 8th assembly therefore recorded a huge success in making it a bill.