Lagos DPP absolved me of land grabbing allegations, says businessman

A Lagos businessman, Babagbemiga Olaiya, has dismissed the insinuation that he is facing trial over land-grabbing allegations.

According to the businessman, the Lagos office of the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP) has since exonerated him and others of the allegations of forcible entry, possession and conspiracy brought against him by the police.

He maintained that the DPP in his legal advice said there is no sufficient evidence to link the suspects to any crime.

Beside Olaiya, other suspects in the Police report are Ismaila Babatunde, Babalola Nofiu, Abiodun Ariori, Josephine Olaiya and Tajudeen Olubiyi to any crime”.

Olaiya in a press conference in Lagos dismissed the allegation that he is facing trial for land grabbing allegations and warned those bandying the rumour to desist or face legal action.

He restated that since the matter has been put to rest through an advice issued by the DPP, necessary legal action would be taken against anyone tarnishing his reputation, adding that the police almost succeeded in prosecuting him for a crime he never committed.

According to him, sometime in June 2015, he purchased a parcel of land from one Alhaji AbdulRauf Tijani not knowing that the title deed for the property was forged.

During a tussle for the ownership of the land, he said several persons including him and the original landowners were arrested by the police and charged before an Igbosere Magistrates Court for conspiracy, forcible entry and possession.

He said the case file was subsequently referred to the DPP office for legal advice, culminating in a legal advice signed by a Deputy Director in the DPP office, Dr. Jide Martin dated May 15, 2017, saying there was no sufficient evidence to link him to the alleged crime.