A fresh crisis is brewing in Ogun State between the gubernatorial candidate for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 elections and the state government over a default notice for land use charges on the property of the former in the Remo council of the state.
Adebutu had raised the alarm on Monday over plans by the state government to enforce land use charges on his property located at Ode-Remo, Remo North council of the state, describing it as an attempt by the incumbent to harass members of the opposition party.
Adebutu raised the alarm in a statement made available by his director of Media and Publicity, Afolalabi Orekoya, titled” Ogun State Government undermines court process, threatens to carry out enforcement on Adebutu’s property”.
He claimed that the notice of default posted on his property was part of a scheme by Governor Dapo Abiodun to “misuse state power” and intimidate him for daring to challenge the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.
The former gubernatorial candidate wondered when a case on the matter of land use and amenity charges on the said property, which has been before the High Court of Justice, Sagamu, since 2018 and still pending, would now be used not only to wage war against him, but to silence and prosecute his party ahead of the 2027 elections.
He mentioned the two separate suits in the land use matter, HCS/275/2018 – Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu vs. Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Abeokuta, which are scheduled to come up on October 8, 2025.
The other case is HCS/409/2024 – Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu vs. Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Abeokuta, which is still pending without a date fixed.
Adebutu strongly criticised the state government’s actions, describing them as “laughable and contemptuous” towards the judiciary, for attempting to enforce charges that are already subject to ongoing legal proceedings. He insisted that the Ministry of Finance lacks the legal authority to impose such measures without proper examination in accordance with established laws.
He said, “The attention of the Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation has been drawn to a Notice of Default posted on one of Hon. Ladi Adebutu’s properties located at Ode Remo in Remo North Local Government by Ogun State Ministry of Finance under the watch of Governor Dapo Abiodun, undermining court process on same matter.
“We state categorically that these devilries are nothing but a ploy by the government to silence and harass the opposition in Ogun State. This latest move is a clear misuse of state power to intimidate the opposition,
particularly Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu and a distraction from the administration’s failure to deliver good governance to the people.
“For the record, the matter of land use and amenity charge on the said property has been before the High Court of Justice, Sagamu, since 2018 and currently the subject of two separate suits quoted below:
1. HCS/275/2018 – Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu vs. Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Abeokuta, coming up on October 8, 2025.
2. HCS/409/2024 – Hon. Oladipupo Adebutu vs. Land Use and Amenities Charge Committee, Ogun State Ministry of Finance, Abeokuta, still pending without a date fixed.
“It is therefore laughable and contemptuous of the judiciary for the government and its agents to attempt to enforce charges that are already being contested in competent courts of law.
“We must remind the public that, by law, the Ministry of Finance cannot unilaterally impose land use charges without proper assessment of the property in line with the Land Use and Amenities Charge laws of Ogun State. In this particular case, the so-called notice was merely posted on the property without due process, hence the ongoing litigation.
“The Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation condemns this reckless abuse of power and calls on Governor Abiodun’s government to stop weaponising government agencies against perceived political opponents. Ogun State would be better served if the same energy were channelled into providing quality governance, infrastructure, and real service to the people.
“We urge the good people of Ogun State to see through this intimidation tactic and remain resolute in the face of tyranny. Democracy cannot thrive where opposition voices are silenced through harassment and illegal enforcement actions,” he added.
Reacting, the state government, through the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to the Governor, Kayode Akinmade, urged Adebutu to refrain from reading political colouration into government activities regarding the land use charges imposed on him by the Ministry of Finance.
“It is unfortunate that Adebutu is reading political undertones to routine government activities, and why are they( PDP) crying wolf over government activities?
“Land use charges are the statutory responsibility of the government to collect from all properties in the state, and it has no political colouration. It is one of the ways the Ogun government generates funds to finance the yearly budget and it is the responsibility of the Ministry of Finance to get that,” he added.
