By BONIFACE AKARAH

A group campaigning against cultism and land grabbing in Nigeria has called on the Ogun State Government to investigate an alleged attempt by suspected land grabbers to use a court judgment to lay claim to properties in Itele, Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area.

The call was contained in a petition dated August 13, 2026, addressed to the Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice by Akin Okunowo, National Leader of Anti-Cult Activities in Nigeria.

The petition concerns three plots of land belonging to Oluwaseyitan Taiwo Joseph, Ibitayo Anuoluwapo Joseph and Gbadegesin Abodunrin, which the petitioner said were acquired in 2017 and 2021.

According to the petition, individuals identified as Fatai Asabiyi, Jamiu Asabiyi, Alasunmo Asabiyi and Semiu Adebayo, also known as “Number 1”, allegedly presented a court judgment while attempting to establish a claim over the properties.

However, Okunowo alleged that subsequent checks against the official Itele land chart showed that the three plots were outside the area covered by the judgment being relied upon.

“The three plots are not even within the location covered by the court judgment they are parading,” Okunowo stated in the petition.

He described the alleged conduct as “pure FRAUD,” while also alleging impersonation and obtaining by false pretence.

The petitioner further alleged that the property owners were initially confronted by the men and pressured to pay ?2.5 million, before the properties were subsequently invaded by armed men.

Okunowo stressed that a court judgment, even where valid, should not be used as a justification for employing force against property owners.

“You do not need armed thugs to enforce court judgements,” he stated.

The petition urged the Attorney-General and the Ogun State Anti-Land Grabbing Taskforce to investigate the judgment being relied upon and establish whether it was being misrepresented or improperly applied to the disputed properties.

It also called for the prosecution of anyone found to have used the judgment as a basis for unlawfully taking possession of the properties.

The petitioner said the matter should receive urgent attention because of the potential for the dispute to escalate into violence.

“This is CULTISM WITH TITLE DEEDS. This is TERRORISM WITH FENCING,” Okunowo alleged, describing what he considered the wider implications of the dispute.

He also urged the government to make the matter a test case in its efforts to tackle land grabbing and the alleged use of intimidation in property disputes across Ogun State.

The petition referenced an earlier complaint dated July 29, 2026, which was reportedly submitted to the Attorney-General’s office on August 3. It urged the government to act on the matter before further confrontation occurs.

The individuals named in the petition were accused of several offences, including trespass, malicious damage, threat to life, conduct likely to cause a breach of peace and obtaining money by false pretence. Those allegations are contained in the petition and have not been independently established in the material provided.

The petition called on the authorities to investigate the claims and determine whether any criminal offence had been committed, as well as to protect the affected property owners and their families.

The Individuals named in the petition were not quoted as responding to the allegations in the material provided.