Court Restrains Nigeria Army From Further Use of Disputed Land in Osun

An Osun state high court sitting in Osogbo has ordered an interlocutory injunction restraining the Nigerian Army and any other agents from further allocation, grant, lease, letting or license of any portion of the expanse of land situate, lying and being between Kelebe area to Omu stream, in Osogbo, to any person pending the determination of the action.

The Nigerian Army and Kelebe-Omu Landowners Association comprising Olorunda, Osogbo, Boripe and Obokun local government areas had been locked in a dispute over the large expanse of land, with both sides claiming ownership of the land.

The suit was filed by Chief Amodu Akanbi, Suleiman Folorunso, Alhaji Ibraheem Olaboye, Alfa Rasaki Tiamiyu and Yekini on behalf of of the families at Kelebe-omu area, with the Attorney General of the Federation, Minister of Defence, Chief of Defence Staff, Post-Service housing development LTD, The Nigeria Army and the Chief of Army Staff as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th defendant respectively.

Granting the interlocutory injuction, Justice A.O Ayoola ruled that “the defendants, their agents, and or privies are hereby restrained from any further constructions, felling of trees, dredging, excavation and devastation of the soil of land in dispute pending the determination of the action”.

Meanwhile, the leadership of Kelebe-Omu Landowners Association has immediately after the ruling proceeded on pasting the court order on every property located on the said land.

The suit was adjourned to April 24, 2021 for definite hearing.

Recalled that the Federal High Court sitting in Osogbo had on Tuesday, 3rd of March, 2020 transferred the case filed by Kelebe-Omu Landowners Association against the Nigerian Army to the Honourable Justice of Osun State High Court for trial.

The case was filed by Kelebe-Omu Landowners Association against the Nigerian Army for allegedly allocating the acquired land measuring approximately 3,646 acres belonging to them and their respective families without following laid down procedure.