By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
KOGI State House of Assembly has cautioned traditional rulers against indulging in illegal sale of reserved community land in Kogi/Koton-Karfe Local Government Area of the state.
The House issued the caution in a resolution following the adoption of a motion of Urgent Public Importance moved by the member representing Kogi/Koton-Karfe Constituency, Hon. Idrees Aliyu Maikudi, during plenary in Lokoja.
Presenting the motion, Hon. Maikudi expressed grave concern over the unauthorized sale of lands originally reserved for public use, including educational institutions and community projects.
Maikudi said he has to raise the alarm in view of the allegations that the sale of land particularly in Chikara community in the Chikara-Koton-Karfe-Abaji axis up to the Kogi State boundary with Abaji in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) was not in the interest of the communities.
The lawmaker noted that the portions of land were sold to individuals with questionable character, including suspected bandits and kidnappers, adding that the development posed a serious security threat to residents along the Chikara-Abaji axis.
“This unlawful action by some traditional rulers is a gross abuse of traditional authority, a betrayal of community trust, and a flagrant breach of the Land Use Act and the 1999 Constitution, which vests all land in the Governor for the common good of the people”, he said.
The House urged the State Government to constitute a Special Investigative Committee to probe the matter and recommend sanctions against those involved.
The Assembly also urged Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo to revoke all illegal land transactions and the recover the affected lands and restore them for their rightful owners for the original purposes.
The Assembly urged security agencies to intensify surveillance and security operations along the Chikara-Koton-Karfe-Abaji corridor to prevent infiltration by criminal elements.
The lawmakers warned traditional rulers to desist from allocating or selling land without following due process and obtaining necessary government approval.
The House in the resolution also urged the state Traditional Council to discipline any traditional ruler found guilty of such acts in line with the state extant laws.
In his ruling, the Speaker of House, Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf, commended the mover of the motion and described the matter as a serious security and developmental concern that must be addressed with dispatch.
He directed the House Committee on Lands, Housing, and Urban Development as well as the Committee on Security and Local Government Affairs to ensure thorough investigation and report back within two weeks for further legislative action. (Ends)