Ondo state government has dismissed as misleading a story making the round that the Attorney General & Commissioner of Justice, Dr. Kayode Ajulo SAN, accused monarchs in the state of land grabbing.
In a statement signed by Yomi Adebayo, the technical adviser to the Commissioner of Justice, it was emphasized that the story as published by Operanews is misleading and irresponsible.
Below is the statement as made available to JustNews:
Our attention has been drawn to a false and misleading report published by Opera News, which misrepresents the position of the Ondo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Dr. Olukayode Ajulo SAN, OON, regarding land-grabbing activities in the State. This is a grossly inaccurate publication designed to mislead the public.
The said news report wrongly used the image of Dr. Ajulo while referencing the name of the former Attorney General of the State, Sir. Charles Titiloye, which raises significant doubts about the credibility of the publication.
This misrepresentation further confirms the poor reportage by Naija247news, as there has been no press conference where Dr. Ajulo accused any monarch of land grabbing.
It is quite mischievous, and we believe the report is fabricated and intentional. Since Dr. Ajulo became Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, he has avoided press conferences out of concern for being misquoted. He only releases official press statements, which are always documented.
At no point did he claim that a traditional ruler is a target. We categorically say this report by Naija247news did not come from him.
For the record, Dr. Ajulo did address the menace of land grabbing while speaking extemporaneously at the Ondo State House of Assembly’s public hearing on the Anti-Land Grabbing Bill which by the practice of the House is well documented. However, his comments were taken out of context by Opera News and manipulated to create a false narrative.
Dr. Ajulo’s actual statements emphasized the government’s firm stance against land grabbing, irrespective of who is involved, and the proactive measures being taken to address the issue, including the recent signing of an Executive Order by the Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa. His remarks were focused on ensuring legislative action to curb the menace and protect landowners and investors.
It is important to clarify that at no point did the Attorney General accuse any monarch specifically or suggest targeting traditional rulers for prosecution. His comments about possible consequences for any individuals, including monarchs, found guilty of land grabbing were made within the broader context of upholding the rule of law.
It is also crucial to emphasize that the Attorney General has firmly reiterated that the laws of Ondo State must be respected and strictly adhered to, including those governing land ownership and administration.
Regardless of any attempt to distort or twist the government’s efforts to address this menace, the law remains clear and unyielding. Anyone found violating the rule of law or engaging in actions that disrupt the peace and stability of the state will face the full weight of justice.
The public is urged to disregard the fabricated report by Opera News, as it does not reflect the true position of the Ondo State government or its Attorney General.
