N16bn Ibadan Land Dispute: Court To Deliver Ruling on Wednesday Nov. 23rd !

Following years of adjournement and protracted court proceedings an High Court in Ibadan, Oyo State capital is set to deliver its ruling on the N16bn valued land dispute involving some families and the State governement, under Sen. Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi.

The concerned families under the leadership of Prince Ganiyu Lasisi Oladigbolu and 21 others had instituted a litigation against the state governor, Senator Ajimobi and five others ‎over 404.74 hectares of land around NIHORT area in the ancient city.

 The suit, filed for the release of over 404.74 hectares of land which the Federal Government had released to the families, but which the state government had withheld was against the Oyo State governor, Abiola Ajimobi and five others as co-defendants.

 

At the last sitting, the 3^rd prosecution witness, Adeniyi Dada Bolarinwa told the court that it was Baale Lasogun who has become one the defendants in the case that gave him Letter of Attorney as the Managing Director of STAD Investment Company Ltd. to be the representative of the entire family on the 404.74 hectares of land in dispute.

Dada who was led in evidence by his counsel, Olayinka Abiose told the court that he made three statements to the police on 2nd May, 2013, 12th December, 2013 and 20th June, 2016 in respect of the case. 

He disclosed in his evidence that he submitted a copy of the Power of Attorney given to him by Baale Lasokun on behalf of the family with the statement he made at the police station on 2nd May, 2013.

The STAD boss also explained that the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development had to, through a letter dated 20th April 201, invite him on behalf of the family over the land based on the Letter of Attorney given to him by the family.

However, Dada told the court that the original copy of the letter was kept by the Ministry of Land Housing and Urban Development, and attempts to tender its copy was rebuffed by the counsel to the defendants.

The counsel for governor Ajimobi, Barr. Nuru Abiola and his counterpart for Chief Eddy Oyewole, Barr. Niyi Ajewole vehemently opposed the tendering of the copy of the letter as an exhibit, declaring that the prosecution counsel did not lay proper foundation for such and that they were not informed ahead that the copy of the letter would be tendered as exhibit.

It was at this point that the trial Judge, Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte adjourned the case to 23^rd of November 2016 for ruling.‎
Case further adjourned till January 6th, 2017. Pending the final judgement it is arguably believed that evidences are proving that the said land belongs to the claimants.

Related news: Gov. Ajimobi Faces Contempt of Court Over N16b Ibadan Land Property!

Following their intransigence on the N16bn land dispute before an Ibadan High Court, the governor of Oyo State, Abiola Ajimobi and three others may face the wrath of the court as the presiding judge, Adegboye Gbolagunte has advised the aggrieved counsel to file the necessary application against them.

At the hearing of the case instituted against Ajimobi and others over the non-release of 404.74 hectares of land formerly acquired by the Federal Government to the owner families,  Dele Akinmusuti, counsel to the families had complained that Ajimobi had, despite repeated pronouncements of the court engaged others to be working on the site. ( Court Bars Ajimobi, aides from land since March 21, 2013) Url Link Reference : http://www.punchng.com/news/court-bars-ajimobi-aides-from-land/

Gov. Abiola Ajimobi - Oyo State

While adjourning further hearing of the case till 16th of December, 2014 Gbolagunte told the Akinmusuti, who led other lawyers on behalf of the owner families to go and file necessary application papers before the court with a promise to look at it and deliver the necessary  order. 

Ajimobi and two of his Commissioners in the Ministries of Land, Housing and Survey as well as Justice had been dragged before the court over the 404.74 hectares of land worth over N16bn.

Akinmusuti however told the court that despite the court injunction restraining all parties from the disputed land, the agent of the government under the leadership of one Muhammed Buhari the CE0 of the Briclinks Integrated Services Limited had been seen engaging in building construction on the land.

Subsequently, the construction firm would join Ajimobi and his two commissioners to answer contempt charges should the counsel to the families bring up the necessary application during the next adjourned date.

Meanwhile, Akinmusuti at the hearing requested for further adjournment to clear the ambiguity in respect of the letter written to them by the Attorney- General of the state on behalf of the government. Leading the claimnants are Chief Niyi Dada (STAD) and Prince Ganiyu L Oladigbolu who are the associate property power of attorney holder and the Secretary of the Concerned Owners Family of Idi-Ishin Nihorts Land, respectively.  

The counsel recalled that it was agreed on the 24th of September that they should come and give report on the proposed out of court settlement, but, said the two correspondences received so far from the defendants would still need to be clarified before there could be any pronouncement on the way forward.

Counsel to Ajimobi and his two commissioners, Nurudeen Abiola confirmed that they had engaged in discussion with the claimants counsel and agreed that they would go and discuss the issues raised by his learned friend and tidy up some areas before final draft of the agreement.

Counsel to the 4th, 5th and 6th defendants in the suit in which Asani Lasokun and Eddy Oyewole had been joined as co-defendants,  Niyi Ajewole did not raise objection to the adjournment request made by the counsel to the claimants as he reiterated that the discussion was between the counsel to the 1st, 2nd and 3rd defendants and those of the claimants in which his clients were not part of.

Read also:

N16b Ibadan land dispute inches towards settlement

http://independentnig.com/n16b-ibadan-land-dispute-inches-towards-settlement/#C52qfzyGBFK3ev6v.99