An Ogun State High Court sitting in Ifo has affirmed the ownership status of the disputed 49.95 acres which is part of the land belonging to the Ewunmi family of Pakudi Village in Ewekoro Local government area of the state.
The land located at Pakudi area of Obada Oko, on the outskirt of Abeokuta, the state capital, had been subjected to litigation between the Ewunmi family and Akinale family of Abe compound in Ago Oba area of Abeokuta.
The akinale family had approached the court since early 2014, seeking an injunction to claim a statutory right of occupancy on the disputed land belonging Ewunmi family of Pakudi Village.
According to the claimants, the land belongs to their forebearers and having possessed the land for a very long time.
However, the Ewunmi family presented traditional evidences to back their claims of being the rightful owner of the disputed parcel of land.
The defendant further told the court that though the Akinale family is one of the residents in the community but that does not amount to being the original owner of the land.
Instead, the defendant said the progenitors of Akinale family were allowed to stayed on the land and not transferring the ownership of the land to them.
Justice S.T Bello, who presided over the matter, dismissed the cased filed by the Akinale family for lack of merits.
Justice Bello said Akinale family failed to establish their root of the title with cogent evidence having presented conflicting evidence in support of their claims.
The Judge further declared that the evidence of long possession of the land cannot suffice in the face of failed traditional evidence.
Justice Bello, however, dismissed the claim of N500,000 damages cost and perpetual injunction by the Akinale family against the Ewunmi family.
