Ogun State Government has served a notice of default on one of the properties of the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the last election, Ladi Adebutu.
The government said the property located at Ode Remo in Remo North Local Government Area of the state is in default of payment of Land Use and Amenities Charge which is valued at N72,867,004.15.
In the notice marked number 17000062 and signed by the State Ministry of Finance, Adebutu was asked to make payment within the next seven days or risk the property liable to enforcement.
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“Please be informed that this property is in default of payment of Land Use and Amenities Charge which is valued at N72,867,004.15.
“Failure to make payment within the next seven days will make this property liable to enforcement.
“N:B- Removal of this notice is an offence to the state which attracts stiff sanctions,” the notice reads.
Reacting in a statement, Adebutu who lost the last his election to Abiodun, described the move as a ploy to “silence and harass the opposition in Ogun State.”
Adebutu in a release by his Media Aide, Afolabi Orekoya, equally said the move undermines an ongoing court process on the same matter.
“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,” he said.
According to him, it is 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 Organization condemns this reckless abuse of power and calls on Governor Abiodun’s government to stop weaponizing government agencies against perceived political opponents. Ogun State would be better served if the same energy was channeled into providing quality governance, infrastructure, and real service to the people,” he added.
He urged the good people of Ogun State to “see through this intimidation tactic and remain resolute in the face of tyranny.”
Daily Trust reports that the development comes a few weeks after Governor Dapo Abiodun’s government moved to demolish properties of the Senator representing Ogun East, Otunba Gbenga Daniel.
In the move branded by Daniel as political vendetta, the government marked the former governor’s his residence, popularly known as Asoludero court and Conference hotel, its annex, all located at Obafemi Awolowo Avenue GRA, Sagamu, citing alleged contravention.
A High Court sitting in Sagamu later issued an interim order restraining the State Government and its agents from demolishing or tampering with the property belonging to Daniel.