By Dominic AKHIGBE
MON, 12 SEPTEMBER 2016-Rabiu Ashamu (aka Jungle) created a huge empire for himself in a suburb of Lagos State. He was ruthless, swift, deadly and generally feared in his community and beyond. He would boast to any one that bothered to listen that he was very popular within Government circle. His activities were akin to outlaw.
Rabiu was notorious for land grabbing and snatching. Woe betides that man who would stray into Jungle’s territory without first of all paying ‘homage’ to him before starting any construction work. No one was too connected for Jungle to accost.
He became so powerful that it became a norm in lands transaction that ‘jungle money’ would reflect in a Land Agreement within his territory if the buyer must possess peaceably and without intimidation. That ‘Jungle’s money’ was included in a Land purchase transaction did not immune a builder from paying all other forms of charges such as ‘clearing, foundation, windows, doors, lintel, roofing, plastering’ and all other obnoxiously strange fees.
In fact; the fear of Jungle became the wisdom of the community. His activities were so notorious that his community started to suffer neglect as prospective land buyers avoided his enclave like a plague. At some point; the family land owners there summoned the courage to ‘call him to order’ by requesting him to streamline his fee as this was discouraging business. He promised them he would look into it. As soon as the Representatives of the community left his ‘palace’; he directed his Hench man to compile the list of the names of those who had the audacity to ‘confront’ him with such effrontery. As soon as the list got to him; he invited them on an Environmental Saturday morning. On their arrival, he informed them that moving forward; he would personally ‘help’ them sell their lands as a deterrent to anyone who would further question his authority in the community. For every Acre he ‘sold’ for any of them; he would keep half of the proceeds to himself and his boys and leave the other half for the family. This he did for a number of years without any one questioning him.
From that day on; it was regarded as suicide to confront him over his ‘fees’ and other activities on lands that never belonged to him. The story of Rabiu Ashamu was reminiscent of an unquestionable emperor. It was replicated all over the state; from the Mainland to the Island; from Ojodu to Badagry, the story was the same.
The Lagos environment became very unfavorable for both the individual and the corporate developer. The state was viewed to be one of the most unsafe places to do Real Estate business. Like Jungle’s community; investors started avoiding Lagos Lands like plague.
This was affecting everyone and the state government alike. Investible funds were diverted to other states which had relatively secured environment for such. Those who could afford it were jostling for the few government estates available in the state. It was generally believed that the government estates were no-go-areas to ‘omon oniles’. In some cases; this was not entirely true. There were cases where the ‘omon oniles’ had to battle the government to a standstill over the ownership of such lands. It was however safer in comparison to access government estates than from privates owners. This truly was bad enough. It became a huge negative in the housing accessibility of Lagos state. The housing situation started getting compounded. Ogun state started serving as the overflow for such developers who could not afford to take such risk with their scarce resources in Lagos State. This was not because Ogun State was totally devoid of land grabbing; but, according to a key player we spoke to; it was easier to do business with an Ogun ‘Omon Onile’ than Lagos’.
In his words ‘the Ogun Omon Onile’ is not necessarily in government. He does not have access to land records in the Registry. Unlike Lagos state; you can ‘settle’ the Ogun Omon onile’ and have your land to possess.’ This was the very unfortunate situation.
As the situation got messier, the listening government of Lagos State felt the pinch. Alausa rose to the occasion and sent an executive Bill to the State Assembly. To the State Assembly members; this was a popular Bill that must not be allowed to die. With little or no tinkering; the Bill promptly traversed all the Legislative bottlenecks and was passed.
The Executive Governor promptly accented to it and it became Law. This was what gave birth to the LAW PROHIBITING FORCEFUL ENTRY AND ILLEGAL OCCUPATION OF LANDED PROPERTIES IN THE LAGOS STATE signed into law by Governor Ambode on the 15th of August, 2016. This new Law protects the proprietary rights of Land and Property owners in Lagos State and also criminalizes actions of forceful and unlawful entry or occupation of premises.
Lagosian can now smile and be relieved. To Lagosian and Real Estate Investors, this is certainly a new day. though some commentators opined that this Law is rather coming late as not a small number of innocent residents in the state have lost so much to these ignoble men, it is however the opinion of the majority that it is better to right a wrong no matter how late in the day. We therefore hope that those saddled with the responsibility of enforcing these populist laws do not leave much to be desired as Lagosians dough their hats for the amiable governor.
Akhigbe is a consultant in Real Estate & an investment portfolio manager and a seasoned Nigerian Micro, Small & Medium Scale Business Coach. Contact:08034846284
