Ikale community has won an age-long land dispute case with her neighboring community of Araromi Obu in Odigbo local government area of Ondo sate.
The case, which was resolved in an Akure High Court, lasted for 15 years with repeated adjournment and trials in a suit number HOR/2/2004.
The people of Araromi Obu (Claimants) had approached the court seeking six reliefs against the defendants.
The claimants; Oba Aderemi Adelola, the Ajobu of Araromi Obuland, Mr Johnson Ladekugbe, Chief Tola Akintemi, Prince Adegboyega Adenikinju, Mr Bisi Adesanlu, Odigbo local government council for themselves and on behalf of Araromi Obu had dragged Oba Faduyile, High Aderoloye Netufo, the Lisa of Ikoja among prominent defendants to court over the legal battle.
The claimants said the defendants were laying claim to their land as well as harassing their kinsmen over the ownership of the land in question.
Their lead counsel, Olagoke Fakunle,(SAN), however, begged the court to grant the plaintiff right of occupancy to the piece of land situated at Araromi-Obu, Ondo State
He also begged the court to declare that the sale or leasing of the aforementioned land to anyone without the consent of the authorities of the plaintiff is illegal.
On their own part, the defendants led by their counsels, Otunba Olusegun Otayemi and O. B. Tobase, argued that Abodi who is the progenitor of the Ikale race, founded the land in dispute and that the Ikales were the ones who settled the people of Araromi-Obu where they are.
They consequently counter-claimed against Araromi Obu on ownership, injunction or forfeiture of customary tenancy.
Justice O.O Akeredolu, the Chief Judge of Ondo state, ruled that the defendants had by traditional history been able to prove that the disputed lands belong to them.
“I hold that they (defendants) are entitled to customary right of occupancy over the lands,” the Judge declared.
Speaking on the development, the legal counsel to the defendants, Adesegun Otayemi said the judgement of the court must take immediate effect.
“The court granted an injunction against Araromi Obu restraining them from trespassing into Ikale territory. The part of the land Ikales went to work on is part of the area granted to them which had always been in their possession,” he said.
Otayemi called on the police to carry out its official responsibility by enforcing the judgement of the court and ensuring compliance by the Araromi-Obu people.
However, Araromi-Obu residents have alleged the total invasion of their land by the Ikales inspite of the appeal filed to challenge the ruling.
The community’s spokesman, Bisoye Monebi condemned the invasion, warning Ikale people to stay off the land pending the judgement of the Appeal Court.
Credit: The Nation
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