Court Resolves Odofin Farmland Tussle

The nine-year-old tussle
over Odofin farmland, situated at sekan village, on Agoro/Oloba road in Osun State Iwo has been resolved.
The resolution of the land crisis is contained in a judgement delievered by Justice M.A. Adergbe on July 3 of an Osun State High Court, Iwo.
The matter was resolved through an out-of-court agreement.
The claimant in the suit, which started in 2005, was the Odofin family while the dependants are also members of the Odofin family.
The defendants were alleged to have trespassed on an 80-hectare land.
The family sued Messrs Bilawu Akanni, Akibu Alimi, Abdullahi Bilawu and Madam Wosilatu Alimi to court for allegedly trespassing on the Odofin farmland.
Five persons, including Mr. Iasisi Akanmu, Mr. Iamidi Adiva, Mallam Akibu Attanda, Mr. Muraina Adeleke and Alhai Taleatu had Instituted the case for themselves and on behalf of all members of Odofin family, Iwo, excluding the defendants.
Three of the Claimants Akanmu, Adisa and Taleatu died during the case.
This left the duo of Atanda and Adeleke to continue representing the family members at home and in diaspora.
After several adjournemtns, the parties, however, agreed to an out-of-court settlement, culminating into the terms of settlement.
According to the terms of settlement, the parties agreed that the land in dispute was a crown land, which can only be administered by the Odofin of Iwoland.
The terms of agreement was adopted and read as judgement of the court presided by Justice M.A. Adergbe on July 3.
In the consent judgement made available to newsmen, last week, the parties agreed “that the land known as Odofin family land situate, lying and being at Sekan, Agoso/Oloba Village Road, Iwo Osun State loandedin the right by Akinrin family farmland, on the left by Modasa family farmland, in the front by Bamolu family farmland and at the back by Ajiegbagun family farland and more particularly delineated on plan No. OS/297/2010/DS01 drawn and signed by A.A. Adeyemi, a surveyor on 09/03/2010 belongs to Odofin family of Odofin’s compound, Gidigbo Quarters, Kajola Area, Iwo Town, Iwo local Government, Osun State.
“That both plaintiffs and defendants are members of Odofin’s compound, Gidigbo Quarters, Kajola qarea, iwo Town, Iwo local Government, Osun State.
“That these terms shall be entered as the judgement of the Honourable Court and parties shall bear their Own Costs”, the judgement read in parts.
Earlier, counsel to the two parties, Dr. Kehinde Adekunle and Mr. E.A. Gbadegesin, holding brief for I.T. Tewogbade, informed the court of the amicable resolution.