Two suspected land grabbers, Taiwo Akanimodo, 50 and Tijani Ademola, 46, have been arrested and charged in Lagos State over alleged failed attempts to assasinated a land owner, Ezinwa Ofoha, after selling his land to another buyer for N8m.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Bada Street, Isheri Oshun area of Lagos.
The victim, Ofoha, bought a parcel of land and the suspects sold the same land to another person, Riliwan Atanda Olorunlanbe, for the said amount.
However, after selling the land in question to the new buyer and issuing another receipt, the victim, Ofoha, surfaced when the new buyer, Olorunlanbe wanted to take possession.
The suspects were shock because they thought he was either dead or may have forgotten about the land. They reported attacked and threatened him with violence but he managed to escape and went into hiding. But they were still said to be looking for him in order to eliminate.
However, the matter was reported to the Police at Area M Command,Idimu. The operatives promptly moved into action, arrested the suspects and detained them at the Command for interrogation over their alleged conduct.
After rounds of interrogation, the Police found them culpable and consequently charged them before the Ogba Magistrate Court for conspiracy, threatening with violence and unlawful sale of land to many people under the Criminal Laws of the State.
The charges read:
COUNT 1: That you, Akanimodo Taiwo ‘M’ and Tijani Ademola ‘M’ and others now at large between the year 2019 and September 2024 at noon at Isheri Osun, Lagos in the Lagos Magisterial District, did unlawfully conspire among yourselves to committed felony, misdinion and thereby committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 412 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT II: That you, Akanimodo Taiwo ‘M’ and Tijani Ademola and others at large did interfere into a landed property at Bada Street, Isheri Osun, Lagos with intent to sale to various people without authorization from the owner Ezinwa Ofoha ‘M’ and thereby committed an offence on the Lagos State Land and Property Protection Act Section 8 (i) a, b and c 2015.”
COUNT III: That you, Akanimodo Taiwo, Tijani Ademola and others still at large in the aforementioned Magisterial District, did unlawfully with pretence, collected the total sum of N8,000,000:00, Eight Million Naira cash and thereafter issued the payment receipt, knowing same to be false from one Riliwan Atanda Olorunlanbe ‘m’ and thereby, committed an offence contrary and punishable under Section 314 of the criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
COUNT IV: That you, Taiwo Akanimodo, Tijani Ademola and others now at large in aforementioned Magisterial District on the same date, time and place, did threaten with violence one Ezinwa Ofoha ‘m’ to kill him, cut off his head and use as feed to vulture bird and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 56 of Lagos State Criminal Law 2015.”
They pleaded not guilty.
The prosecutor, Supol Evelyn, asked the Court to give a date for hearing since they pleaded not guilty to enable the Police to prove that they actually committed the alleged offence.
The Presiding Magistrate, Mr. M.A. Adegbaye, granted them bail with two sureties in like sum, who must show evidence of means of livelihood and tax payment while addresses will be verified by the Court.
The matter was adjourned for mention while the defendants were remanded in custody at the correctional center at Kirikiri town, Lagos, pending when they will perfect their bail conditions.