Adebutu, Abiodun in Fresh Rift Over ₦72m Land Use Charge

A new political showdown is brewing in Ogun State as the 2023 governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Oladipupo Adebutu, has accused the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun of a political witch-hunt. The accusation follows the posting of a “Notice of Default” for an alleged ₦72.8 million Land Use and Amenities Charge on one of Adebutu’s properties in Ode Remo.

In a statement issued by the Director of Media and Publicity of the Ladi Adebutu Development Organisation, Afolabi Orekoya, the PDP chieftain described the government’s action as a “reckless abuse of power” and a move to intimidate political opponents. The statement alleged that the government was attempting to enforce charges that are already the subject of two separate lawsuits before the High Court of Justice in Sagamu, with the first case dating back to 2018. “It was 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,” the statement read.

Adebutu’s camp also insisted that the Ministry of Finance cannot unilaterally impose land use charges without a proper assessment of the property as stipulated by Ogun State law. The organization called on Governor Abiodun to “stop weaponizing government agencies against perceived political opponents” and instead focus on providing quality governance and infrastructure.

In a swift and direct response, the Ogun State government, through the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, dismissed the allegations as baseless. Akinmade stated that Adebutu was “crying wolf where there is none,” as the collection of Land Use Charge is a statutory responsibility of the government to generate revenue.

“Every state government in the country collects land use charges. It is not peculiar to Ogun State or Adebutu,” Akinmade said. “This notice of payment default is pasted on all properties that have failed to remit their land use charge. It is not connected to party affiliation and has no political undertones, so they should stop all these shenanigans.”

The ongoing feud adds to a long-standing political rivalry between the two prominent figures, who hail from the same hometown of Iperu Remo. The dispute highlights the tense political climate in Ogun State and raises critical questions about the use of state powers in a democracy, even as the government maintains that its actions are purely administrative.