Farmers occupying camps and sub-camps within the Oluwa Forest Reserve in Odigbo Local Government Area of Ondo State have petitioned Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, alleging persecution by the Chairman of the Ondo State Agribusiness Empowerment Centre (OSAEC), Mr Rotimi Wemimo Akinsola.
The farmers, through their legal counsel, Tope Temokun Chambers, claimed in a letter dated March 6, 2025, that OSAEC was working to forcefully evict them from their farmlands despite a pending case at the High Court of Ondo State.
They alleged that the agency was attempting to manipulate the judicial process by obtaining an ex parte order from a Grade A Customary Court in Ore to override the High Court’s existing order that restrained any eviction.
According to the letter, “On 17th February 2025, OSAEC filed a suit at the Grade A Customary Court, Ore, seeking a declaration that it is the rightful owner of 10,000 hectares of farmland in the Oluwa Forest Reserve.”
The agency named SAO Capital Limited as the first defendant and “persons whose names are unknown” as the second defendant.
Two days later, the agency allegedly secured an ex parte order from the Customary Court restraining SAO Capital Limited and the unnamed persons from accessing the forest reserve.
However, the farmers argued that this order was obtained to facilitate their eviction, as OSAEC had since embarked on a public campaign urging them to vacate their farms.
The petitioners also pointed out that a separate case, SUIT NO. HOR/14/2023 – ABAYOMI ROTIMI ISINLEYE AND OTHERS VS ONDO STATE GOVERNMENT AND OTHERS, is still pending at the Ondo State High Court.
They maintained that the state government has thus far respected the interim order restraining any forceful eviction, but accused Mr Akinsola of taking steps to bypass the High Court’s proceedings.
They further alleged that since the ex parte order was issued, their farms have been set on fire by unknown persons, exacerbating fears of a coordinated plot to remove them from the land.
“OSAEC is now laying claim to ownership of Oluwa Forest Reserve, which is already a subject of dispute before the High Court.
Meanwhile, SAO Capital Limited, which was sued in the Customary Court, is not conducting business in the forest. The actual private investor involved in uprooting farmers’ cocoa trees and replacing them with oil palm is SAO Agro-Allied Services Limited,” the letter stated.
The farmers insisted that the legal move by OSAEC was a deliberate ploy to target them while shielding the real investor.
They accused Mr Akinsola of using security operatives, including the police and the Department of State Security (DSS), to pressure them into complying with what they described as a “dubiously obtained” court order.
In their plea to Governor Aiyedatiwa, they called for: Immediate intervention to ensure they can access their farmlands without intimidation. A thorough investigation into OSAEC’s role in the dispute. Government protection to safeguard their rights and livelihood.
“We trust in your commitment to justice, fairness, and the welfare of the people of Ondo State,” the letter concluded, urging the governor to act swiftly to prevent further hardship for the farmers.
Leave a Reply