Edo Governor Probes 17-Year-Old Who Bought 14,000 Hectares of Land, Suspends Approvals Statewide

Edo Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has ordered an immediate suspension of all land-related approvals, including the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-Os), following startling revelations that a 17-year-old boy allegedly acquired over 14,000 hectares of land across the state.

Sources within the Government House told PulseNets that the governor took the decision after p

reliminary findings indicated irregularities in the state’s land documentation processes. Governor Okpebholo reportedly expressed concern over what he described as “a disturbing signal of deep-rooted corruption in land administration.”

Speaking at a press briefing in Benin City, the governor confirmed the development, saying the matter was already under full investigation. He stated:

“We are probing how a 17-year-old could come to possess such vast property in Edo State. Until we verify the source of wealth and uncover how the land was acquired, all land approvals are hereby suspended.”

PulseNets obtained by government insiders that the governor has directed the relevant ministries and agencies to cooperate fully with investigators to ensure transparency and accountability throughout the process.

Governor Okpebholo further assured that the suspension was temporary and would not affect genuine applicants. According to him,

“The signing of Certificates of Occupancy will resume immediately after the investigation concludes. The documents are already printed and ready; we only need to ensure that the system is clean and credible.”

Meanwhile, the governor also took a swipe at the previous administration led by Godwin Obaseki, accusing it of mismanaging public resources. He alleged that the Obaseki government spent about ₦8 billion on software consultancy, an expenditure he described as “an avoidable financial drain on the state’s coffers.”

Also Read: Monday Okpebholo, Idahosa sworn in as Edo governor, deputy

In his words,

“We have built our own software using the expertise of trained Edo workers. Today, the system is running more efficiently, and we didn’t need to waste billions on external consultants.”