{
  "id": 11067319,
  "title": "Two men acquitted of land theft charges",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/two-men-acquitted-of-land-theft-charges",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-01T00:42:52.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Punch",
    "slug": "punch",
    "url": "https://punchng.com/two-men-acquitted-of-land-theft-charges/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two men, Lawal Ige and Ajiboye Ayinla Iroko, have been acquitted of charges related to land theft in Lagos State. The case was heard by the Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja, and the judgment was delivered on September 17, 2026. The defendants were charged with conspiracy, theft, forgery, and the use of false documents in relation to a 10.503-hectare parcel of land in Alimosho Local Government Area.\n\nThe prosecution alleged that the land, located in Igando Town near Idowu-Egba Village, belonged to Prince Osibote. However, the court held that the prosecution failed to prove beyond reasonable doubt that Osibote owned the disputed land. The judge noted discrepancies in the description and location of the land, with Osibote describing it as being in Alimosho/Egbeda, while the land sold to Iroko was described as being at Abule Onilu/Igando.\n\nThe prosecution called three witnesses during the trial, but the judge found that these witnesses did not establish a meeting of minds between the defendants, which was necessary to prove conspiracy. Additionally, the court rejected the prosecution's reliance on transactions involving Iroko's account as sufficient evidence of conspiracy.\n\nThe judge also found that the prosecution failed to produce any title documents establishing Osibote's ownership of the land. Furthermore, the court rejected parts of the evidence relied upon by the prosecution as hearsay, noting that forgery is a serious criminal allegation that requires reliable evidence.\n\nIn conclusion, the Lagos State High Court discharged and acquitted Lawal Ige and Ajiboye Ayinla Iroko of all charges, as the prosecution was unable to prove their guilt beyond reasonable doubt.",
  "summary": "A Lagos High Court has acquitted Lawal Ige and Ajiboye Iroko of land theft, forgery, and conspiracy charges, ruling the EFCC failed to prove its case. Read More: https://punchng.com/two-men-acquitted-of-land-theft-charges/",
  "key_points": [
    "Lawal Ige and Ajiboye Ayinla Iroko acquitted of land theft charges in Lagos State.",
    "Case heard by Lagos State High Court on September 17, 2026.",
    "Prosecution failed to prove ownership of disputed land beyond reasonable doubt."
  ],
  "editors_take": "The acquittal of Lawal Ige and Ajiboye Ayinla Iroko marks a significant setback for the prosecution, highlighting the challenges of securing convictions in complex land theft cases where evidence is disputed.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Punch Nigeria",
        "title": "Two men acquitted of land theft charges",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/01/two-men-acquitted-of-land-theft-charges-11068013",
        "published": "2026-10-01T00:46:52.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}