Gov. Abiodun under fire as Adebutu exposes ₦72m land levy scandal

The 2023 Ogun State governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oladipupo Adebutu, and Governor Dapo Abiodun are at loggerheads over a N72 million land use and amenities charge imposed on Adebutu’s properties in Ode Remo, Remo North Local Government Area of the state.

Adebutu, through his media aide, Afolabi Orekoya of the Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation, described the seven-day ultimatum pasted on his buildings as an act of harassment and political intimidation targeted at silencing opposition voices.

According to him, the matter is already before the courts in two separate suits: HCS/275/2018 and HCS/409/2024. He argued that enforcing the charges while the cases are pending amounts to contempt of court.

“It is laughable and contemptuous for the government and its agents to enforce charges that are being contested in competent courts. The so-called notice was posted without due process, and that is why litigation is ongoing,” Adebutu said. He further accused the governor of weaponising government agencies against political opponents instead of focusing on governance and service delivery.

In response, Governor Abiodun’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, dismissed the allegations as baseless. He maintained that land use charges are statutory across Nigeria and have no political undertones.

“Every state government collects land use charges. This is not peculiar to Ogun State or Adebutu. They are crying wolf where there is none,” Akinmade said, adding that even institutions like Rock City FM in Abeokuta have received similar notices.

He argued that Adebutu should approach the Ministry of Finance if he has concerns, instead of politicising a routine revenue collection exercise.