Edo State Governor, Senator Monday Okpebholo, has signed into law two major bills, the Edo State Public Property Protection Law, 2025 and the Customary Court of Appeal (Re-establishment) Law, 2025.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by his Chief Press Secretary, Fred Itua, the governor said the laws reflect his administration’s commitment to transparency, accountability and the protection of public property from abuse and illegal acquisition.
The Public Property Protection Law establishes the Edo State Public Property Protection Committee, a statutory body mandated to safeguard, recover and manage all state-owned assets.
The committee will work with law enforcement agencies to prevent encroachment, vandalism, and unlawful occupation of public properties.
The new law also empowers the committee to seal, reclaim, and initiate legal proceedings against offenders through the Ministry of Justice.
It prescribes strict penalties for violations, including a five-year jail term for unauthorised sale or transfer of government property, and up to ten years’ imprisonment for violent or forceful entry into state-owned assets.
Okpebholo stressed that the legal framework demonstrates his administration’s zero tolerance for corruption and impunity, noting, “Public assets belong to the people of Edo State, not individuals. This law ensures that no one, regardless of status, can convert public property for personal gain.”
He added that professionals aiding illegal land transactions involving state property will face prosecution and disciplinary action from their professional bodies.
Similarly, filing false claims or petitions concerning government land will attract severe penalties.
Since taking office, Okpebholo has intensified efforts to reclaim public assets, appointing Eugene Okoloise as Managing Director of the Edo State Task Force for the Protection of Government Properties, an initiative that has already recovered several buildings and parcels of land.
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