An Osun-based legal practitioner, Oyekunle Abass, has publicly appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to address the 12-year backlog of unsigned Certificates of Occupancy (C-of-O) in the state, warning that he has initiated legal proceedings to compel action on the matter.

In a statement released on Monday in Osogbo, Abass expressed frustration over the prolonged delay, revealing that his personal application for a C-of-O filed between 2011 and 2012 for land purchased in 2007 remains unsigned despite completing all necessary processes.

"Governor Adeleke has not signed any C-of-Os since his inception as the governor and that is not acceptable constitutionally. My right has been trampled upon and I have taken a step legally on the matter," Abass stated.

The lawyer emphasized that signing these documents would significantly boost economic development and increase the state's internally generated revenue. He cited Lagos and Oyo states as examples where such documents are processed within a month, generating substantial revenue for state coffers.

According to Abass, the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning had already inspected and approved many properties awaiting certification, with documents reaching the final stage requiring only the governor's signature. He noted that the current administration had contacted him to update signature columns that still contained former governors' names since 2012.

"We are asking for an Order of Mandamus to compel the governor to sign the piled up C-of-Os," Abass declared, adding that those responsible for C-of-O issuance needed to be held accountable for favoring "high bidders" without following due process.

The lawyer's complaint comes despite the Osun State Government's 2024 directive promising to make Certificates of Occupancy available to landowners within 45 days, along with outlined procedures for obtaining the document.

As of publication time, the Osun State Government has not issued an official response to Abass's allegations or the threatened legal action.