By Lukman Olabiyi
Members of Adelupo Family of Ilogbo, in Ado-Odo Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State are currently living in fear over a series of attacks by thugs, allegedly instigated by the Itusi Royal Family.
The family, in a save-our-soul petition written to the security agencies, appealed to the local and state governments to come to their aid. The family, in a petition written by their lawyer, Abraham Adeoye, stated that the Itusi Royal Family, led by Chief Taofik Ebelamu, Raimi Amore, Lukman Amore, Apewo Lamidi, and Elijah Adeokun, has been terrorising the people and giving members of the community sleepless nights and serious trauma. They pleaded for urgent government’s intervention for the protection of lives and properties of people in the community. The petition is titled “Flagrant disregard of court judgement on invasion of community with armed thugs causing breach of peace, fear and chaos in the community.”
The statement reads: “Our Clients are the owner of the land situated at Baba-Ode Village via Iju, Ota Ogun State. Our clients’ ownership of the land was declared by the court, first in the year 1923 by the Native Court, 1983 by the Customary Court which was against members of Olakotan/Isadare family.
“Sometime in the year 2010-2011, the members of ltusi Royal family of Ilogbo invaded our clients’ land with armed thugs as a result, an action was instituted at the High Court in suit No. HCT/90/2011 and judgment delivered on June 28, 2017 against ltusi Royal family members in favour of our client.
“Despite the High Court judgment, the invaders refused to vacate the land, but continued to commit various atrocities demolishing houses, selling people’s land without the owner’s consent, intimidating/harassing people, threatening the life of our client and lots of more.
The Court of Appeal, Ibadan Division had on January 24, 2023, in a judgement delivered by Justice Folasade Ayodeji Ojo, also dismissed the appeal filed by the ltusi Royal family.
Justice Ayodeji held: “The Appellants did not appeal against the findings of the lower court and the conclusion reached, therefore, that they (Appellants) acting through their agent trespassed into the Respondents’ land. The findings and conclusions reached, thereon, subsist and are binding on them.
“On the whole I find this Appeal lacks merit. It fails and it is accordingly dismissed. I, hereby, affirm the judgement of the High Court of Justice, Ogun State in Suit No, HCT/90/20, between Alhaji Muhammad Ebelamu & 5 Ors, delivered on June 28, 2017.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the reliefs granted by the lower court and affirmed by me are as follows: “A declaration that the Respondents are the persons entitled to the Statutory Right of Occupancy, over the land situates and lying at lju via Ota in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State as shown in Plan No. SEW/W/2532/2A made by M.A. Seweje, dated 10/10/76, and Survey Plan No. OG/1460/2011/002, drawn by R.O.S. Alabi and dated 25-2-2011.
“A declaration that the first -fifth appellants have no right to engage the sixth defendant as an agent over the land in dispute or sell any portion of the land without the consent of the Claimants. The sum of 250,000.00 as damages for trespass and crops destroyed by the defendants on the land in dispute.”