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Tag: land dispute

  • Land dispute: Cleric gets judgment

    Land dispute: Cleric gets judgment

    Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan has admitted in evidence, the documents presented before it to prove that Satguru Maharaj Ji is the owner of the disputed land located at Aladorin village, on Ibadan-Lagos Expressway.

    Justice Olajide of Fiat Court 3 ruled that the evidence presented to the court were weighty enough to be admitted in evidence of the ownership of the land.

    Some of the evidence admitted in court in favour of Satguru Maharaj Ji, which the claimant’s counsel tried to knock out, included Customary Court judgment of 2004, which ruled that the Aladorin family owned the land before selling it to Satguru Maharaj Ji and not Olagoke family.

    After admitting the evidence for trial, the judge adjourned the case till July 8 for both parties to argue the case further.

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    It will be recalled that the claimant, Taofeek Olagoke, had argued that his late father, Olagoke, owned the land currently occupied by Maharaj Ji on Ibadan-Lagos Expressway and Satguru Maharaj Ji had continued to provide concrete evidence before the court to prove he was the owner of the land.

    In a similar vein, Fiat Court 10 has granted the pending application for the amendment of Satguru Maharaj Ji’s name in the ongoing legal proceedings in the court, and motions moved to add more evidence to the case was admitted as well.

    The court also acknowledged motion to bring onboard more witnesses into the lawsuit, with a 14-day window given to the movers of the motion; starting from May 6.

  • Retired DSP ‘kills’ self after allegedly murdering three relatives over land dispute

    Retired DSP ‘kills’ self after allegedly murdering three relatives over land dispute

    A 63-year-old retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Charles Atideka, has allegedly committed suicide two days after he reportedly murdered three persons, including two of his relatives.

    The incident occurred in Yovoyan community, Gberefu Beach, Badagry, Lagos.

    Atideka was alleged to have shot dead Richard Atideka, 75, Latevi Atideka, 70, and Muji Onilude, 63, who were billed to testify against him in a land dispute in the early hours of Tuesday before fleeing the community through the beach.

    He was said to have carried out the attack in the Atideka compound between 2am and 2:30am that day with the help of an unarmed accomplice.

    Read Also: One killed over land dispute in Ogun community

    According to the police, surveillance was mounted in a bid to apprehend the suspect who later resurfaced and was found to have ingested poison.

    Spokesman for the command, Chief Superintendent of Police, Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed that Atideka died yesterday, said: “A report was received around 8:30am on April 1, that the suspect shot and killed three people. He escaped through the sea while the victims were rushed to the Badagry General Hospital where they were confirmed dead.

    “The bodies were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary and surveillance placed to arrest the suspect. The casefile will transfer to SCID for discreet investigation.

  • Retired DSP ‘kills’ self after allegedly murdering relatives over land dispute

    Retired DSP ‘kills’ self after allegedly murdering relatives over land dispute

    A 63-year-old retired Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Charles Atideka, has allegedly committed suicide two days after he reportedly murdered three persons including two of his relatives.

    The incident occurred Yovoyan community, Gberefu Sea Beach area of Badagry, a Lagos district.

    Atideka, was alleged to have shot dead Richard Atideka, 75, Latevi Atideka, 70, and Muji Onilude, 63, who were billed to testify against him in a land dispute in the early hours of Tuesday before fleeing the community through the beach.

    He was said to have carried out the attack inside the Atideka compound between 2am and 2:30am that day with the help of an unarmed accomplice.

    According to the police, surveillance was immediately mounted in a bit to apprehend the suspect later resurfaced and was found to have ingested poison.

    The spokesman for the command, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed that Atideka died on Thursday, said: “a report was received around 8:30am on April 1, that the suspect shot and killed three people. 

    He escaped through the sea while the victims were rushed to the Badagry General Hospital where they were confirmed dead.

    “The bodies were deposited at the hospital’s mortuary and surveillance placed to arrest the suspect. The casefile will transfer to SCID for discreet investigation.

    “But today (Thursday), the police received information that the suspect consumed poison. Two of those he killed are his relatives and they were meant to testify against him in court in a land dispute.”

    However, the deceased officer’s son, Henry Atideka, disputed the suicide claims by the police, noting that his father was on his way to the Badagry Police Division to honour their invitation when he suddenly collapsed and was rushed to the hospital.

    Read Also: Court restrains firm, others from sale of land

    He said that he got a call from his dad around 8:30am informing him that he was going to the police station only to get another call by 12:30pm that his dad collapsed and was rushed to the General Hospital, Badagry.

    “My brother, John Atideka, went to check on him at the hospital. He found three policemen guarding our father, who was admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU),” Henry explained.

    According to Henry, his brother later found that their father had disappeared from the ICU, with no trace of the three policemen.

    Upon inquiry, a nurse informed him that their father had passed away. 

    He immediately contacted the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) to inquire about the situation but was told the DPO had no information regarding his father’s death.

    Henry expressed his frustration over the situation, claiming that the police should conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the truth behind his father’s death.

    “I arrived at the hospital around 4pm and was initially denied access to my father’s body. After calling the DPO, I was allowed to see him.

    “When I saw his cold body, I was told his death was caused by a rise in blood pressure due to the accusations.

    “My father was a respected member of the Badagry community. He didn’t kill anyone. The police should find the real culprit so that his soul can rest in peace,” he appealed.

  • Lagos council boss speaks on land dispute, challenges, and allegations

    Lagos council boss speaks on land dispute, challenges, and allegations

    Recently, a contentious land dispute brewed between the Executive Chairman of Agege Local Government Area in Lagos State, Alhaji Ganiyu Kola Egunjobi, and former Deputy Speaker of the Ogun State House of Assembly, Edwards Ayo-Odugbesan, alongside his wife, Pastor Funmi Ayo-Odugbesan. 

    While the Agege local government claims ownership of the land, the Odugbesan couple asserts it belongs to them. The couple had established a primary school on the site, which was later demolished by the council. 

    In an interview with select media, Egunjobi shed light on the matter and addressed other pressing issues. 

    You and the Odugbesan couple are in a dispute over the land at No. 47 Old Ogba Road, where they had established a primary school before your council demolished it. What is your perspective on this issue? 

    Well, the matter is currently subjudice before Justice Lawal of the Ikeja High Court, so I must avoid comments that could be deemed contempt of court or prejudicial to the case against Mr. Ayo-Odugbesan and his wife. However, we have filed our defence, in which the council firmly asserts ownership of the land in question, supported by irrefutable evidence. 

    The land does not belong to me personally but to the council, and I am grateful that the people of Agege are taking the lead in safeguarding what rightfully belongs to them as part of their collective heritage. 

    Unfortunately, I have suffered a lot because of this issue. I have been subjected to police interrogations and an alleged investigation by the EFCC, as reported by the media. My life has been threatened, and I have faced smear campaigns, including unfounded allegations about my educational background and intrusive inquiries into the lives of my wife and children for reasons beyond my understanding. 

    These malicious efforts seem designed to distract the public from the real issue at hand. As the saying goes, when you fight corruption, corruption fights back—this rings true in this situation. Nevertheless, I am not complaining. I took an oath to serve the people of Agege, and I have upheld that commitment for the past seven years. 

    For context, this is not the only instance of the council defending its rightful assets. We are also in court with Access Bank over its headquarters, which is located on our land at Oyin Jolami in Victoria Island.

    The local government autonomy is yet to take effect as the federal government is yet to commence direct payment of allocations to councils five months after the Supreme Court’s judgment. What’s your take on this?

    I am aware of the ongoing collaborative efforts between the state and federal governments to implement the Supreme Court’s judgment. I am also mindful of moves by some states, particularly Anambra, which have enacted laws to maintain the status quo, including the joint account system, and the strong opposition this has drawn from the federal government. 

    Lagos councils have historically operated with a certain level of independence from the state government. This autonomy has allowed for significant developments across council areas in both infrastructure and human capital. 

    Here in Agege, under my administration, the council has built four health centers, with two more currently under construction. Schools have been renovated, and some were constructed from the ground up.

    Similarly, roads have been built and improved. In many parts of the country, councils cannot fund such projects, leaving them the responsibility of state governments. However, in Lagos, councils are actively involved, making substantial investments in both infrastructure and human capital development on an unprecedented scale.

    A bill to strip State Independent Electoral Commissions of the power to conduct LG elections and vest INEC with the power has passed the second reading in the House of Representatives. Do you subscribe to this move?

    To me, it’s neither here nor there. Having INEC as the new umpire of council elections has its merit but that’s just on paper. In theory, the prevailing situation whereby ruling parties in states win all councils’ elections from chairmanship to councillorship would become history. But the Nigerian factor may derail it from achieving its purpose of ensuring freer polls at the grassroots. On the other hand, INEC too has not covered itself in glory with its performance and also has a lot on its plate with all the off-season elections.

    As a leader in the grassroots where people feel the prevailing, economic hardship more. What would you say of President Tinubu’s administration?

    I think the policies are generally good, particularly the economic reforms such as subsidy removal, the reforms in foreign exchange that put an end to fixing the value of the naira against other currencies, and multiple exchange rates that encouraged rent-seeking. Now, market forces are determining the value of the naira.

    This is saving Nigeria trillions that previously were used to defend the significant arbitrage between the official exchange rates and the rates in the parallel market. It has also stopped round-tripping in the forex market. I agree that there are unintended, unpleasant consequences but you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs. Am confident that Nigeria is in good hands and there will be light at the end of the tunnel.

    Your time as the council’s chairman is winding down. Do you have a succession plan?

    It’s not within my power to pick my successor. I am not even qualified to contemplate such. I stand to be corrected, there is no local government chairman in any part of Nigeria that’s so powerful to independently pick his successor.

    Anointing or whatever is called is peculiar to governors and presidents. As they say in local parlance, ‘who dash monkey banana.’ You may wonder why the Lagos local government election is near the corner and in most of the state campaign posters of chairmanship and councillorship aspirants are scattered everywhere except in Agege.  This is because we are all united, under the leadership of the Speaker of the State House of Assembly Rt. Honourable Mudasiru Ajayi Obasa. There is neither PDP nor Labour Party in Agege, everybody accepts Obasa as his political leader and supremo.

  • Land dispute: Judge warns against conflicting applications

    Land dispute: Judge warns against conflicting applications

    Justice Aishat Opesanwo of the Lagos State High Court has warned lawyers against filing applications that result in conflicting orders.

    She issued the warning while refusing an application for a restraining injunction by Abiodun Ariori and Tajudeen Akanbi, representatives of the family of the late Chief Mojisola Cole.

    The applicants sought to obtain an interim injunction stopping NASCO Town Ltd from exercising possessory rights over an expanse of land located at Abule Oshun in Ojo Local Government Area of Lagos State.

    Justice Opesanwo, sitting as the vacation judge, directed the applicants back to Justice M. A. Savage, who is the substantive judge adjudicating the case.

    She said: “A new legal year resumes next (this) week and I will ask all of you to go back to the substantive courts originally handling your cases.”

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    The judge decried the practice of lawyers invoking the jurisdiction of vacation judges over matters not urgent as required by the rules.

    Justice Opesanwo stressed that only urgent cases ought to come before vacation courts.

    She said: “It’s like a doctor handling an emergency surgery. Many of the cases you filed here are not emergency cases.

    “You file frivolous applications and get orders that may conflict with that of the substantive court.

    “When judges are blamed for conflicting orders, no one blames lawyers that file conflicting applications.

    “I will not entertain any case today. Go back to your substantive courts and handle your cases there.”

    The defendants had sought an interim injunction against NASCO despite a subsisting interlocutory injunction in its favour by the substantive court which had restrained the defendants and their agents from meddling with the land.

    The defendants (applicants in the vacation processes) filed by Hussain Tijani of H.O.T Chambers are Abiodun Ariori, Prosperous Ariori Golden Ventures Limited, Pertinence Limited, Terralords Nigeria Limited, Unknown Persons, Mrs Oluwaremilekun Ariyo (nee Cole), Mr Oluwasegun Cole, Oladapo Cole, Mr Tanimowo Cole, and Dr Islamia Efumbowale Cole (head and principal members of Chief Michael Mojisola Cole family).

    In a 19-paragraph affidavit deposed to by Tajudeen Akanbi, the defendants claimed that the land belongs to them.

    On May 16, Justice Savage (the judge in charge of the matter) granted an interlocutory injunction in NASCO’s favour.

    The judge restrained the defendants from carrying out any act of ownership of the land.

    The injunction followed an application by NASCO as the major applicant.

    Other applicants were Incorporated Trustees of NASCO Landlords and Residents Association, Ekpunobi Charles, Samuel Metu, Idafum Theaddeus, Ernest Onubogu, Okoli Obiora, Johnpaul Umebulue, Victor Okoye and Chukwudi Okorji.

    The land forms part of a large parcel of land originally acquired by the Federal Government via Notice 1138 published in the Official Gazette No. 44 Vol. 64 of September 8, 1977.

    The Federal Government leased the land to NASCO through a June 5, 1978 agreement registered as No. 92 on Page 92 of Volume 1739 of the Lands Register.

    The land was undeveloped, but the company obtained development approvals, cleared and sand-filled it, constructed estates and access roads, and developed a free trade zone, jetty and terminal facility while maintaining the integrity of the land and meeting its financial obligations to the government.

    According to NASCO, it has since been exercising rights of ownership and undisturbed possession until 2017 when the defendants led by Mr. Abiodun Ariori started laying claims to the land and entering into transactions with third parties over some parts.

    Alleging trespass, NASCO sued and sought a declaration of title and perpetual injunction.

    The plaintiff’s counsel, Chief Anthony Ikoli (SAN), applied for an order of injunction to restrain the defendants from infringing on the land pending the determination of the suit. 

    Justice Savage on May 16 granted the injunction restraining the defendants from continuing with construction works or exercising acts of ownership over the land pending the determination of the suit.

    Dissatisfied, the defendants filed a Notice of Appeal dated May 24, 2024.

    They also filed a motion before the substantive court for a stay of execution of the injunction.

    The motion was initially fixed for hearing on July 10, 2024 (shortly before the vacation commenced).

    Due to the defendants’ inability to serve the application on some of the respondents, the court adjourned the hearing of the application till October 14.

  • Community protests encroachment on land

    Twelve persons were arrested yesterday in Abba and Ukpo, Prince Arthur Eze’s Community in Anambra State, following a land dispute between the two communities.

    Of the number, three are women.

    The land dispute has lasted 44 years.

    Abba community had planned a peaceful demonstration on the Onitsha/Awka expressway to protest the alleged takeover of their land by Ukpo.

    The Supreme Court, in January, told the communities to return to the High Court to begin the case afresh following missing court documents relating to previous rulings.

    As early as 6am yesterday, hundreds of stern-looking policemen had blocked the expressway and the road leading to Abba, while women were stopped from doing their businesses in the market.

    The teargas canisters that landed inside the Community Secondary School forced pupils to join the protest.

    Vehicular movement was hindered for several hours, forcing motorists to use alternative roads.

    A community leader in Abba, Mr. Obinna Chukwuma, regretted the development, describing it as unfortunate. He added that their decision to embark on a peaceful demonstration was to let the world know what they were passing through over their land.

    He said: “Abba is a peaceful community but it is under siege. We have been living in harmony with our neighbours, but all of a sudden, a money bag from our neighbouring community, Ukpo, decided to take over our land by force.

    “Anybody approaching this community from Awka would see the signpost with the inscription, ‘welcome to Abba’.

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    “That is our boundary with Ukpo, and they know it very well. When they built their local government headquarters, they built it on their land. When they built a police station, they built it on their land. They also plan to build a market called Eke Agu Ukpo on their land. So they know where their land is located.

    “But unfortunately, they have come into our own land to mount a banner with the inscription ‘welcome to Ukpo junction, Dunukofia local government. In other words, they erected their sign post in another local government because Abba is in Njikoka council and not Dunukofia.

    “That is why the people are protesting. We don’t have arms, we are not fighting anybody. We just want the world to know what is happening.

    “It is unfortunate that someone who feels he has money is using it to intimidate us. Look at policemen firing teargas on innocent people, and women chased away from the market.

    “Last week, the security operatives blocked our community with 12 hilux vans. Today, there are more than 500 policemen and over 20 hilux vehicles, including anti-bomb vehicles, just to mount a signpost on our land, even when Boko Haram is driving people out of their homes in some parts of the country.

    “We will let the world know what is happening in our community…”

    The protesters called on President Muhammadu Buhari and Governor Willie Obiano to intervene in the interest of peace and harmony.

    Police spokesman could not be reached for comments. But a senior officer, who pleaded for anonymity, said the command would not allow anybody or group cause mayhem.

  • Family urges Lagos govt to intervene in land dispute

    THE Igbaro Oteshade Royal Family of Oko Addo Village in the Eti-Osa Local Government Area of Lagos State has called on the Lagos State government to intervene in a land dispute between it and a Lagos- based businessman called Emeka in the interest of peace and justice.

    In a release signed on behalf of the family by Prince Malik Oteshade, the Secretary of the family, Emeka, was accused of trespassing “a parcel of land which was fully excised in favour of the family in September 2015 vide a publication by the Lands Bureau pursuant to the family’s application for excision in File No KL 10255.”

    The release said: “The family petitioned the Inspector General of Police, Lands Bureau and the Office of the Surveyor-General, Lagos State, wherein the family’s title to the land was affirmed.

    “The report of the investigation activities from the Office of the Surveyor -General dated 24th January, 2018 showed that plans with nos. LS/D/LA1412A; LS/D/LA3849 and LS/D/LA3806 dated 18th December, 2003, 29th January, 2016 and 22nd September, 2015 respectively in favour of the Oteshade family were approved plans from the Office of the Surveyor- General.

    “The area covered by the four Survey Plans aforementioned and said to belong to Emeka largely falls within the excised twenty hectares in favour of the Oteshade family as shown in plan Nos. LS/D/LA1412A; LS/D/LA3849 and LS/D/LA/3806 dated 18th December, 2003, 29th January, 2016 and 22nd September, 2015.

    “We reiterate that the Oteshade Family will never negotiate its land title with anybody. We advise Emeka to stop parading defective and incompetent certificates of occupancy. A certificate of occupancy issued on a duly excised land will never stand.”

    In his reaction, Emeka said “the land in question belongs to me”.

    He said he bought it and claimed that he could prove his ownership of it through genuine documents.

    He further said he won all cases relating to the land in courts.

    “As at now, a petition on the issue is before the Lagos State House of Assembly,” he said.

     

  • Land dispute: suspected hoodlums attack journalist in Kwara

    Suspected hoodlums Thursday allegedly attacked a broadcaster with the Kwara state owned Radio station Abdullahi Adisa-Akodudu in Ilorin, the state capital.

    The hoodlums were said to have attacked and beaten him to a pulp on quarrel over land.

    The incident, it was gathered occurred at lrewolede Housing estate along Yidi road in llorin when the suspected hoodlums were demolishing two structures on the disputed land.

    Adisa-Akodudu has in the last 13 years, been the Chairman of House owners Association of the estate for over 13 years.

    He is also said to be rightful owner of the land in dispute. Adisa-Akodudu attackers were said to have bolted away before residents of this estate got wind of the incident.

    The broadcaster who was found later in a pool of blood sustained several injuries on his head and leg.

    Adisa-Akodudu is now at the emergency department of the Kwara state General Hospital, llorin where he is receiving treatment.

    The state General Hospital was besieged by scores of journalists and some residents of lrewolede Housing estate who were disallowed to see their injured colleague.

    When contacted spokesperson of the state police command, Ajayi Okasanmi confirmed the incident.

    He said the police had swung into action with a view to fishing out the perpetrators of the act.

    Kwara state Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Umar Abdulwahab has condemned the attack of the Journalist.

    He urged the state police command and other law enforcement agents to urgently investigate the matter and bring the perpetrators and their agents to book.

  • Delta community wins age-long land dispute with Bayelsa

    Okia community in Burutu council area of Delta State has won an age-long land dispute with Agge community in Ekeremor council area of Bayelsa State.

    The High Court of Justice, Delta State in the Bomadi Judicial Division holden in Bomadi ruled in favour of the Delta community after several years of delay, adjournments and trials.

    The settlement was contained in a judgement delivered in Suit Number: HCB/13/2004 by the Court.

    The Claimants had approached the Court wherein they sought four reliefs against the Defendants.

    The Claimants, Messrs Pius Gbeneyi, Christopher Dove and Francis Akara, for themselves and on behalf of Okia Community in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, had dragged William Isiayei, Mt. Monday Lugbenwei, Mr. Okuku Imole Wurutuawei, for themselves and on behalf of Agge Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Defendants, to court over land tussle.

    They claimed that the defendants are laying claim to the land as well as seeking to take benefits due to Okia Community from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

    The Claimant’s through their Counsel, Nnamdi Ugwuka tendered a Plan No. PP/DT/2K4/03. In their reliefs,the Community prayed the Court for. “A declaration of Statutory right of occupancy to that piece or parcel of land which is lying, being and situate at Okia Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria.

    “An order of Perpetual Injunction retraining the Defendants from dealing with SPDC and/or Sterling in any manner whatsoever, including the implementation of the Integrated Pipeline Surveillance Scheme(IPSS) in relation to the Claimant’s aforesaid Community land situate at Okia Community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

    “A declaration that the Claimant’s Community being the rightful and bona-fide owner and in possession of the said Okia Community land, host to the aforesaid facilities belonging to the SPDC is the Community rightfully entitled to be considered by the SPDC for the implementation of the Integrated Pipeline Surveillance Scheme(IPSS) for host Communities especially on Okia Community land or any other contract which may be conceived by SPDC and/or Sterling or any other company whatsoever for host Community.

    “A Perpetual Injunction restraining the Defendants by themselves, their servants, agents, privies, workmen or whosoever from interfering or disturbing the Claimant’s right and title to peaceful possession and occupation of the said piece or parcel land situate at Okia Community or preventing or denying the Claimant’s of the right of reaping the benefits accruing to their Community as host to the SPDC facilities and/or Sterling or any other company and whatsoever facilities located on the Claimant’s Okia Community land in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.”

    On their part, the Defendant argued the matter challenging them to prove their claims and title to the land in dispute amongst others.

    Larry Ovwromoh Esq and V.A. Umukoro Esq represented the Defendants, Messrs Williams Isiayei, Monday Lugbenwei and Okuku Imole Wurutuawei who are representatives of Agge Community in Ekeremor LGA in Bayelsa State in Court.

    Delivering judgement, the Court presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Michael Nduka Obi, said, “I have given due consideration to the evidence of Claimant’s witnesses; the traditional history of the claimants was only challenged to the extent that the land in dispute formed part of Okibou land.

    “Having now found that the Defendants failed to discharge the burden of proof in establishing that the land being claimed forms part of Okibou land, this Court believes the evidence of the 1st Claimant on the traditional history of the claimants as well as right of ownership exercised on the land in dispute.

    “I find that the evidence of traditional history was conclusive in proof of their ownership of the land in dispute and the Court so holds. I resolve these issues in favour of the Claimants.

    “Flowing from what I have heard above, I hereby declare that the Claimants are entitled to Statutory Right of occupancy to that piece or parcel of land known and called Okia Community land which land is lying, being and situate at Okia Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria,” the court declared.

  • Offa, neighbour quarrel over court verdict on land dispute

    There is anxiety in Offa and Erin-Ile communities of Offa and Oyun local government areas of Kwara State.

    Erin-Ile claimed it got a Supreme Court judgment on December 14, ceding some parcels of land in Offa to Erin-Ile, but Offa community has described its sister community’s claim as false.

    Both communities had engaged in bloody clashes over ownership of some land.

    Speaking on the judgment, the National President of Erin-Ile Progressive Union, Samuel Olu Alabi said: “In 1973, pursuant to administrative judicial panel, headed Justice Daramola, we got a Supreme Court judgment on December 10, that same year, confirming the boundary of Erin-Ile as far as NEPA office – the present Offa Descendants Union (ODU) and several other places – as belonging to Erin-Ile.Thereafter, there had been some administrative interventions to distort the Supreme Court confirmation.

    “Few years after, the Offa community and some other individuals in Offa felt they should litigate the once resolved boundary. Like any other court case, it started from the High Court, and they lost. They appealed to the Court of Appeal and they lost. Finally, they went to the Supreme Court. On December 14, just a few days back, the Supreme Court not only dismissed the appeal, it (also) awarded a cost of N500,000 in favour of Erin-Ile.

    “The court also classified the appeal as an abuse of court processes against known legal norms. It confirmed that the Erin-Ile land covers where we know now as the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Avalon Hotel and many other places. That is the background and the summary of the judgment.”

    Alabi added that the community would soon swing into action for the enforcement of the judgment.

    He said: “We are running a community, not a one-man show. We have already set up a committee to review the judgment. The committee will advise the EPU national body and the Elerin of Erin-Ile on the way forward.

    “It will be too hasty for us now to say the steps we will take. We are studying the judgment and, at the end of the day, the whole world will know where we are heading to.

    “But, unlike the 1973, when we did not take steps, this time round, we will take necessary steps in accordance with the judgment. When and how we are going to do it is not yet determined. The steps we are going to take include the execution of judgment validly delivered by the highest court of justice in Nigeria.

    “There are established procedures for executing a court judgment. This is what we are going to adopt. We will not do anything against the law. Any judgment that is not enforceable is a mere waste of time, and our judges would not deliver judgments that cannot be enforced.

    “We must know that there is no appeal after the Supreme Court judgment. Like I said, it is not going to be like a military intervention; the whole world will be told. Our neighbours will be duly advised through newspaper adverts. We will not allow people to work on sentiment and allow least informed people to think Erin-Ile is troublesome and violent.”

    The President of Offa Descendants Union (ODU), Alhaji Najim Yaasin, urged the state government to caution Erin-Ile not to cause unnecessary tension by spreading false claims and reports to unsuspecting members of the public.

    In a latter to the state government, he said: “Contrary to the claim of Erin-Ile, the Supreme Court did not award any land to Erin-Ile. The land dispute between Offa and Erin-Ile dates back to the Adaramola’s boundary report, which awarded part of Offa land to Erin-Ile.

    “That decision was challenged up to the Supreme Court and the court held that the decision could only be varied by the state government based on the law setting up the boundary commission.

    “The present case arose from some families in Offa, who want their ancestral land that was wrongly given to some families in Erin-Ile.

    “The Supreme Court’s recent ruling struck out the appeal on technical grounds of improper parties before the court and the matter has been settled by previous decision of the Supreme Court.”

    The letter reads: “That the Dr Funsho Daramola’s report has been varied by different military governments of Kwara State. In 1975, Col. Ibrahim Taiwo amended the Bamgboye Edict to set aside the Dr Funsho Daramola report and, in its place, set up a committee of traditional rulers, headed by the late Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulu Karnaeni Gambari, which eventually fixed the boundary at the crest of the hill between the two community, called ‘Kere Ipinle’; a peace accord was then signed by both communities.

    “In 1985, Group Captain Salaudeen Latinwo published an advertorial acquiring some 500 metres on both sides of Kere Ipinle boundary for buffer zone. In 1986, Wing Commander Ndatsu Umoru surveyed the buffer zone with register beacons and deposit, accordingly. In 1997, Col. P. A. M. Ogar (Military Administrator, or MILAD) signed the buffer zone into law and gazetted it accordingly.

    “It is now crystal clear that various governments had varied severally the decision of Dr Funsho Daramola report and is no longer valid.

    “Offa, therefore, rejects any claim to land by Erin-Ile beyond the present status quo. Offa will not concede any part of its land to Erin-Ile. Offa reiterates its position that the Supreme Court has not awarded any land to Erin-Ile.

    “The Kwara State government is hereby called upon to caution Erin-Ile from creating problems where none exists.”