The Edo State Government has vowed to end land racketeering and multiple sales of government-acquired land, warning individuals and community groups against interfering with legitimate developers and investors.
The Managing Director of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (EDOGIS), Innocent Bello, made the disclosure during a press briefing at Oke-Oroma on alleged multiple sales and encroachment on government-acquired land at Obagie-N’Evbuosa.
Bello, who spoke on behalf of the Edo State Government Land Restitution Committee, said the allocation, registration and administration of government-controlled land remained the exclusive responsibility of the state government and its designated institutions.
He said no individual, family, community, traditional group or self-appointed land committee had the authority to allocate or register government land, stressing that historical or traditional claims could not justify the sale or resale of land already acquired by government.
According to him, the government has subjected documents submitted by affected developers to due diligence and, where necessary, forensic examination to establish the authenticity and history of disputed transactions.
Bello said the Restitution Committee was established to resolve genuine grievances arising from land transactions and protect persons who may have acquired interests in land in good faith.
He alleged that some persons who previously sold portions of the disputed land were still attempting to resell the properties or interfere with developers who subsequently acquired legitimate interests.
‘The era of engaging in land racketeering, selling government-acquired land and using land sales as a means of survival is over in Edo State,’ Bello said, warning that the administration’s commitment to due process should not be mistaken for weakness.
He disclosed that Gaius Emokpae, the Okaighele, secretary and other persons linked to the alleged multiple sales had been invited before the committee to account for the transactions, including the dates, sums received and disposition of proceeds.
Bello warned against the harassment or intimidation of legitimate developers, government officials and members of the committee, saying such actions would be referred to security and law-enforcement authorities.
He urged persons with unresolved claims from previous restitution exercises to submit relevant documents to the committee, assuring legitimate investors that the government would protect their interests while safeguarding its land assets against fraudulent sales and encroachment.
Members of the Restitution Committee, developers and other stakeholders attended the briefing.