Edo State Enacts Tough Laws to Protect Public Property, Imposes 10-Year Jail Term for Violators
In a significant move to safeguard state assets, Edo State Governor Monday Okpebholo has enacted new legislation that imposes severe penalties for the misappropriation and unauthorized access to government property. The landmark law introduces a 10-year imprisonment term for violent entry into state-owned facilities and a five-year sentence for unauthorized property transfers.
The legislation, known as the Edo State Public Property Protection Law, 2025, establishes a dedicated committee to oversee and protect public assets. According to a statement released Tuesday in Benin by the governor’s Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the law represents a crucial step in combating corruption and property mismanagement.
Under the new framework, the Public Property Protection Committee will have broad powers to identify, inspect, and recover encroached public properties. The committee is authorized to investigate disputes and work alongside law enforcement agencies to ensure compliance. Through the Ministry of Justice, it can initiate legal proceedings against violators.
“Public assets belong to the people of Edo State, not private individuals,” Governor Okpebholo emphasized, underscoring the law’s importance in preventing personal appropriation of state resources.
The legislation also targets professionals who facilitate illegal land transactions involving government property, subjecting them to prosecution and potential disciplinary action by their regulatory bodies. Additionally, the law includes provisions to penalize false petitions and fraudulent claims related to government lands.
In a related development, the state government announced plans to implement stricter measures against cultism and kidnapping. Prince Kassim Afegbua, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, declared during a press briefing in Benin on Monday that the government would take decisive action against perpetrators regardless of their social status.
The commissioner emphasized the administration’s determination to eliminate these social vices through bold and decisive measures, signaling a comprehensive approach to maintaining law and order in Edo State.
The new property protection law marks a significant step in the state’s efforts to preserve public assets while the planned anti-cultism measures demonstrate the government’s broader commitment to public safety and security.
Leave a Comment