A 73-year-old man has been arraigned in Abeokuta. Oludare Oderinde appeared before an Abeokuta Magistrates’ Court on Friday. He faces a two-count charge of unlawful entry and threat to life. He pleaded not guilty.
Land disputes are common in Ogun State and across Nigeria. They often involve conflicting claims of ownership. The courts are flooded with such cases. In 2024, a similar dispute in Abeokuta led to violence. In 2025, the state government launched a land registry digitisation programme to reduce fraud. Enforcement remains weak. Elderly litigants are common. The cases drag on for years.
The prosecutor, Inspector Opeyemi Lawal, told the court that the offences occurred in October at Abule Olomore, Abeokuta. Oderinde allegedly entered a parcel of land belonging to Mrs Olutayo Olusupo. He claimed the land belonged to him. He allegedly threatened to kill the complainant if he saw her on the land again. The complainant reported the case. He was arrested.
The offences contravene Sections 81 and 86 of the Criminal Law of Ogun, 2006. The Magistrate, Mrs O.T. Odubanjo, granted bail in the sum of ₦500,000 with one surety. The surety must be a registered bondsman with the Ogun State Judiciary. The case was adjourned to 30 November for mention.
The defendant did not provide an address to the court. The complainant was not present. The police did not comment on the ownership dispute. The land remains contested. The threat allegation will be tested. The court will decide.
Winners: The complainant, who gained a hearing. The court, which asserted process. The police, which made an arrest. Losers: Oderinde, who faces trial at 73. The complainant, who faces a long legal process. The court system, which is overburdened. Taxpayers, who fund the trial.
Bottom Line: An elderly man faces trespass and threat charges. The land dispute remains unresolved. The court will decide the criminal charge. The ownership question is separate. Land disputes need faster resolution. Otherwise, the courts become the battlefield.