Two legal instruments will appear to make the actions of the governor of Ondo state in the instant case justifiable. They are the land use Act and the Trade Cattle Tax Law of Ondo State, 1969 (amended 2006). It further criminalizes failure to pay the trade cattle tax or failure to take such trade cattle to the appropriate control post for inspection purposes. Akeredolu was right and within the law in placing the notice to quit the forests of Ondo on the herdsmen. Under the law, the governor can refuse to grant such permit in the interest of the public.

Source: The Guardian January 26, 2021 03:22 UTC