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THE MAGIC WAND OF THE ANTI-LAND GRABBING LAW IN ONDO STATE
By Allen Sowore, Esq
For many, the dream of owning a piece of the earth is more than a financial aspiration; it is a quest for security, dignity, legacy, and a place to call home. From generation to generation, land has remained one of mankind’s most treasured possessions—a symbol of stability and prosperity.
Yet, in many parts of Nigeria, the journey from aspiration to ownership has often resembled a walk through a minefield. What should have been a straightforward transaction frequently becomes an exhausting encounter with deceit, intimidation, and endless litigation. Unsuspecting investors, hardworking families, and non-indigenes seeking opportunities have often found themselves trapped in the web of fraudulent land dealings.
Ondo State was not spared from this troubling reality. In Akure and several other communities, stories abound of innocent buyers who paid for land only to discover that it had been sold to multiple persons. Others who acquired property lawfully found themselves besieged by self-appointed custodians of ancestral entitlement, demanding one levy after another. The notorious menace of land grabbing became a dark cloud hanging over property ownership, investment, and development.
For years, that cloud seemed immovable.
Then came a ray of legislative sunshine.
The Anti-Land Grabbing Law signed by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa on December 30, 2024, has emerged as a powerful instrument of reform—a magic wand sweeping through a sector long plagued by uncertainty and abuse.
Like a skilled surgeon removing a malignant growth, the law confronts the entrenched culture of illegality that had taken root in land administration. It draws a bold line between legitimate ownership and criminal opportunism, replacing confusion with clarity and fear with confidence.
At the heart of this transformation is the visionary work of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo, SAN, whose commitment to legal reform has helped usher in a new era for land administration in Ondo State. Through this landmark legislation, a clear message has been delivered: the era of impunity is over.
Across the world, meaningful land reforms have always been catalysts for economic growth. Nations prosper when property rights are protected, investments are secured, and citizens have confidence in the sanctity of ownership. Ondo State is now positioning itself firmly within that progressive tradition.
One of the greatest strengths of the law is that it does not merely condemn wrongdoing; it defines offences with precision and prescribes corresponding penalties. In doing so, it gives practical effect to Section 36(12) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, which requires that offences and their punishments be clearly established by law.
The result is a legal framework that no longer leaves room for ambiguity.
The law speaks with unmistakable firmness.
It prohibits the sale of family land without the consent of the family head, secretary, and accredited principal members. It criminalizes the resale of land that has already been legitimately transferred. It protects government property from unlawful transactions. It closes loopholes that fraudsters previously exploited and erects legal barriers against sharp practices.
For offenders, the consequences are severe.
A person who unlawfully resells land may face up to twenty-one years imprisonment. Land grabbers who employ forceful entry risk ten years behind bars. Illegal occupiers face imprisonment or substantial fines, while violators of real estate transaction regulations are similarly exposed to stiff sanctions.
These penalties are not merely punitive; they are deterrents designed to restore order to a system that desperately needed protection.
Perhaps most importantly, the law strikes at the heart of the infamous “Omo-Onile” culture that has burdened countless landowners with multiple and illegal demands. For years, many developers approached construction sites with apprehension, unsure of which group would emerge next to demand yet another payment.
Today, the law stands as a shield against such exploitation.
By restricting the preparation of critical land documents to qualified legal practitioners, it also elevates professionalism and safeguards purchasers from the dangers posed by quacks and impostors.
Recognizing that laws are only as effective as their enforcement, Governor Aiyedatiwa moved swiftly to establish a high-powered task force to drive implementation. The body, chaired by Dr. Kayode Ajulo, SAN, and comprising respected legal, security, and community leaders, underscores the seriousness with which the administration views this reform.
The impact is already evident.
High-profile individuals, including traditional rulers, have been brought before the courts under the provisions of the law. Such actions reinforce an enduring democratic principle: no individual is above the law, and justice must wear the same face for both the powerful and the ordinary citizen.
In many ways, this legislation represents more than a legal reform. It is an economic policy. It is an investment strategy. It is a declaration that Ondo State is open for business and prepared to protect those who choose to invest within its borders.
Indeed, the Anti-Land Grabbing Law reflects the very essence of Governor Aiyedatiwa’s OUR EASE Agenda—creating an environment where security is strengthened, opportunities flourish, and economic activities can thrive without fear or intimidation.
The story of land ownership in Ondo State is gradually changing.
Where uncertainty once reigned, confidence is taking root.
Where intimidation once flourished, the rule of law now stands guard.
Where investors once hesitated, new possibilities are emerging.
And in that transformation lies the true magic of this law—not in mystery or illusion, but in the power of justice, order, and responsible governance.
The Anti-Land Grabbing Law is more than legislation; it is a promise fulfilled, a shield for the vulnerable, and a foundation upon which future generations can build with confidence.
For Ondo State, it is indeed a magic wand—one wielded not by sorcery, but by the enduring power of the law.
Allen Sowore, Esq.
Special Adviser to the Governor
(Communication & Strategy)
June 6, 2026
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