Ogun monarch appears in court over land dispute
(Nigeria) The Abepa of Joga Orile in Ogun, Oba
Adeyemi Adekeye, on Tuesday appeared before an Abeokuta High Court VI
over alleged illegal acquisition of 500 hectares of land at Isaga
Orile.
The case, with suit number AB/187/08, was initiated by the Oniyide
family in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of the state.
The family, through their counsel, Mr Ayotunde Faniyi, had on Nov. 19, 2012, told the court that the monarch encroached on the family land.
He said further that the Oniyide family, who he claimed owned the land, had been using it for farming and other purposes before the alleged incursion by the monarch.
The counsel had also called on witnesses, including the monarch of Isaga Orile, Oba Joseph Tella, to buttress his point that the Oniyide family did own the land.
He told the court that the monarch had erected structures such as hospitals, markets, and stalls among others on some portions of the land in dispute.
But giving his testimony on Tuesday, Adekeye claimed that he bought the land in 1999 from the Opebiyi and Moronfolu families through one Chief Adetayo.
The monarch also said that he decided to build hospitals, markets and stalls among others on the disputed land to develop the community.
“I decided to build a police post on the land because some armed robbers came all the way from Lagos and dropped six corpses and a damaged vehicle.
“I called the police in Lafenwa and Ayetoro and they both said that the area was not within their respective jurisdictions,” he claimed.
Faniyi, while cross examining Adekeye, claimed that the traditional ruler was cautioned by the police against erecting structures on the land based on a petition by the plaintiff.
The prosecuting counsel also claimed that the plaintiff was molested, assaulted and dehumanised many times by sponsored agents of the monarch.
All the allegations were denied by the monarch, who said `` they are all lies and without any iota of truth.''
The judge, Mrs Olatokunbo Majekodunmi, after listening to both arguments, adjourned further hearing till May 21.
The family, through their counsel, Mr Ayotunde Faniyi, had on Nov. 19, 2012, told the court that the monarch encroached on the family land.
He said further that the Oniyide family, who he claimed owned the land, had been using it for farming and other purposes before the alleged incursion by the monarch.
The counsel had also called on witnesses, including the monarch of Isaga Orile, Oba Joseph Tella, to buttress his point that the Oniyide family did own the land.
He told the court that the monarch had erected structures such as hospitals, markets, and stalls among others on some portions of the land in dispute.
But giving his testimony on Tuesday, Adekeye claimed that he bought the land in 1999 from the Opebiyi and Moronfolu families through one Chief Adetayo.
The monarch also said that he decided to build hospitals, markets and stalls among others on the disputed land to develop the community.
“I decided to build a police post on the land because some armed robbers came all the way from Lagos and dropped six corpses and a damaged vehicle.
“I called the police in Lafenwa and Ayetoro and they both said that the area was not within their respective jurisdictions,” he claimed.
Faniyi, while cross examining Adekeye, claimed that the traditional ruler was cautioned by the police against erecting structures on the land based on a petition by the plaintiff.
The prosecuting counsel also claimed that the plaintiff was molested, assaulted and dehumanised many times by sponsored agents of the monarch.
All the allegations were denied by the monarch, who said `` they are all lies and without any iota of truth.''
The judge, Mrs Olatokunbo Majekodunmi, after listening to both arguments, adjourned further hearing till May 21.
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