Barring any unforeseen circumstances, the over five years N16 billion Ibadan land dispute would come to an end on January 10 next year following the decision of an Ibadan High Court Judge, Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte, to deliver judgment in the case on the said date.
Justice Gbolagunte made this known after the adoption of the written addresses submitted by the counsel to both the plaintiffs and the defendants in the suit.
The 404 hectares of land situated between Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) and National Horticultural Research Institute (NIHORT) in Ibadan had become a subject of litigation between 22 families, who are the owners of the land and Oyo State Government as far back as 2013 following the refusal of the state government to release the land valued at N16 billion to the owner families after release by the Federal Government.
Led by Prince Ganiyu Ladigbolu, the 22 families had sued the state government as represented by the governor, Sen. Abiola Ajimobi, and two of his Commissioners (Lands, Housing and Survey and Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice), Hasani Lasokun, High Chief (now Oba Eddy Oyewole) among others before Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte of the State High Court, MKO Abiola Way (former Ring Road) in the state capital.
While making his submission on the written address, Counsel to the claimants, Barr. Kelly Ogbe told the court that he filed the claimants’ final written address on 8th of May 2018 and adopted same, urging the court to grant all the prayers of his clients.
(Independent)
