The Lagos State House of Assembly has called on Governor Akinwunmi Ambode to sign the bill prohibiting  forceful entry and illegal occupation of landed property in the state to law.

The Assembly Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, on Wednesday urged Ambode to sign the bill into law to allow speedy enforcement by security agencies.

Obasa said, “We urge our governor to sign the bill into law for enforcement and sanity on land matters in the state.”

The bill was passed by a voice vote of all members present at plenary on Tuesday after it had gone through the third reading.

Obasa had told the acting Clerk of the House, Mr.  Azeez Sanni, to make a clean copy of the bill.

“The clean copy should be forwarrded immediately to the state Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, for assent,” he added.

According to the provisions of the bill, land grabbers face a maximum of 21 years’ imprisonment and minimum of five years’ imprisonment, if convicted.

There are also various fines for individuals or groups convicted of land grabbing offences.

The bill provides for prohibition of forceful land takeover, entry by force, illegal occupation of property, use of land agents, illegal use of law enforcement agents, encroaching with a weapon, sales of property without authority and professional misconduct, among others, with their attendant punishments.

The law was read a third time on plenary through a motion moved by the Majority Leader of the House, Sanai Agunbiade.