The Edo State Government has said that it has recovered over 500 government-owned properties from individuals who unlawfully took over such properties across the state.

The government added that such encroachers into Edo State-owned properties are in for a rough ride as the state government has enacted a law prescribing a 10-year jail term for anyone who unlawfully enters any government land, with Governor Monday Okpebholo assenting to the bill passed by the state House of Assembly.

Violators of the provisions of the new law will also have a speedy session with the court, as a special court for their prosecution has been approved to try such infractions.

Making the disclosure in Benin on Wednesday at a press conference, the Chairman of the Edo State Public Property Protection Committee, Mr. Eugene Okoloise, vowed that the Committee would implement the spirit and letter of the new law, as no sacred cow would be spared in its enforcement.

Okoloise, who said that his Committee had recovered over 500 state-owned properties from encroachers since he took office, assured that he was determined to ensure that all government properties in the hands of individuals were recovered.

He warned that no one would be treated as a sacred cow in his bid to recover government properties, adding that ignorance would not be accepted as an excuse for breaking the law.

“Before now, there was no law empowering us to prosecute offenders. But now that the governor has signed this law, there is no excuse. Anyone caught will be prosecuted in accordance with the law. To this effect, the government has set up a special court to prosecute anyone who sells or encroaches on government property.

“And I want to assure Edo people that anyone caught shall be prosecuted in accordance with the law, no matter how highly placed. We are not going to spare anyone or treat anyone specially because of his or her status.”

He disclosed that to make the law known to the public, his Committee had begun enlightenment through media houses and a community-to-community awareness campaign.

“We are going to sensitise the general public, including rural dwellers, that there is a new law to prosecute anyone who forcefully enters government property.

“I have plans to go round media houses to sensitise our people. Briefing you on the new law is part of the enlightenment campaign,” Okoloise reiterated. (Nigerian Tribune)