Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, has said the government is set to prosecute applicants who present forged documents or false information to secure land titles in the state.
Ipaye said this on Tuesday at a stakeholders' forum on Land Use Act (Title Documentation) Regulations 2012.
He said many applicants (both corporate and individual) were fond of applying for Certificate of Occupancy, using receipts or other documents which were either backdated or forged.
At the forum, which was organised by the Lagos State Ministry of Justice and the Lagos State Lands Bureau, Ipaye said the government would henceforth prosecute such persons or organisations for the criminal offence.
He said, "It is an offence to forge documents and it is punishable under Section 363 of Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011.
"It is criminal to supply false information to public officials with intent to deceive, and is punishable under Section 96 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
"An offender is liable, on conviction, to one year imprisonment."
According to him, the culpable individuals and organisations try to create the impression that their transactions predated the Land Use Act of 1978 which vested the governor with the statutory authority to issue Certificates of Occupancy.
He added that the persons in whom land was vested before the commencement of the Act were deemed to be holders of a right of occupancy granted by the governor.
Permanent Secretary, Lands Bureau, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola, expressed worry that electronic documentation of land titles was being frustrated by the falsification of land documents.
Mrs. Dayo Akitoye, who represented Muri-Okunola at the forum, expressed optimism that the reforms would put an end to racketeering acquisition of land titles in the state.
The Punch