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Lagos High Court Declares Oloja and Awujale As Rightful Owners Of Disputed Epe Land
Eko Hot Blog reports that in a recent ruling by Justice Sharafa Olaitan of the Lagos State High Court, Epe, it has been determined that the Iposu Chieftaincy Family is not the rightful owner of the 1,168.141 hectares (equivalent to 2,886.534 acres) of land located within the Epe communal land.
This land comprises a significant area encompassing Akesan and Papa, allegedly bounded by Epe Lagoon, the Santos Family land, Lupotoro Family land, Odofin Compound, Jubulu Family land, and Itemu River.
This judgment is particularly related to Composite Plan No: ASC/050°/LA/2020, as prepared by Surveyor F. A. Ogunbadejo and dated August 10, 2020.
Justice Olaitan concluded that the extensive tract of land rightfully belongs to Oba Kamoru Animashaun, the Oloja of Epe, and Oba Sikiru Adetona, the Awujale of Ijebuland.
This legal decision marks the culmination of an eight-year legal dispute involving Prof. Sulaiman Talabi, Chief Olayiwola Oladunjoye, and Chief Wale Mogaji, who represented themselves and the Iposu Chieftaincy Family as defendants in suit number EPD/131LMW/2016. They contended with counter-claimants, which included Mr. Bayo Rasaq, Mr. Ahmed Rasaq, the Oloja of Epe, the Awujale of Ijebu Land, and Rivebond Nigeria Limited.
Justice Olaitan further noted that the defendants failed to provide the survey plan used in the Supreme Court case, which formed the basis for the judgment. She emphasized that none of the survey plans utilized in the referenced judgments were presented by the defendants. During cross-examination, the first defendant (DW1) was unable to answer questions pertaining to these judgments.
In her final verdict, Justice Olaitan found that, considering the evidence provided by both the counter-claimants and the defendants, the balance of probability favored the counter-claimants. As a result, she granted the first, second, and fourth counter-claimants reliefs I, II, III, and V. A sum of N5 million was awarded as damages under Relief FV. Additionally, a cost of N5 million was imposed on the defendants, payable in a ratio of 70% to the fifth counter-claimants and 30% to the first, second, and fourth counter-claimants.
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