This Perversion Of Justice.
I watched in dismayed awe on Ogun State tv news on the eve of Monday the 6th of November 2017 as the station correspondent narrated how a certain man accused of demolition of an uncompleted building was discharged and acquitted by a Chief Magistrate Court and how this sole arbiter admonished the concerned parties to "maintain the peace" thereafter.
The undisguised body language of the accused young male spoke volumes.
He must have done the deed after thorough intimidation and threat to his victim... with definite assurance that "nothing would come out of the matter".
He looks like a guy who would threaten to destroy his victim's building right on court grounds. He looks like a man who would go back to mock his victim and poke his finger in his face. Or so my gut says!
I know for a fact that the "Omo Oniles", the brazen and notorious land grabbers are still operating live in Ogun State. I actually accosted one such felon nicknamed "Oosha" who commands a retinue of thugs in Ewupe area of Ota. He openly challenged the right of the government to enact laws that criminalize the activities of land grabbers and land extortionists , told me I was unwell to question his actions , and plastered me with insults as his band of hooligans continue to carry on their criminal activities as if the said law was never passed!
Now, let's examine the hassles an average Nigerian goes through before he can successfully lay a brick on a land: He pays a village head. In all probability, four, five, six or more other persons are likely to contest the right to ownership of same parcel of land with him....having been sold this same single piece of land. I know of people who only "got lucky" after five or more attempts at land purchase! He pays these urchins before laying his foundation, constructing his lintel, his fence, his roof, digging his well or borehole, plastering his house! He pays for every conceivable maintenance work done on that house... So long as his predators get a whiff of the information!
It takes tons of courage for this same man to approach an average Nigerian police post to lodge a report aimed at clipping the wings of his "landlord and master", persevering long enough to see the case through the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, organize, fund and guide witnesses.... He must have seen and done a lot to see the case through trial and conclusion of trial.
I also know that the land racket fetches lots of monies for corrupt lawyers, judges and policemen...
That senior policemen make millions in land as tradeoffs for dishonest and unfair dealings is stale news. Ditto compromising lawyers and judges. Otherwise, dollars, euros, pounds sterling and other assortments of raw cash would not be seen in the residential quarters of judges who hide under their beds to avoid arrest!
Judges who claim that such monies were either legitimate gifts, duly earned or somehow strolled into their houses...
And a legal system that admits such thrash...
This recent acquittal another case in point!
Dr Tosin Akindele is currently writing his biography, The Tragedy of Truth. He is a medical practitioner and public affairs analyst.