An Ondo High Court has settled an age-long land dispute between Orunto Stock of Orolalatan, Olusote and Orolalatan families of Okunmo community in Okitipupa Local Government Area of the state.

 

Justice A. W. Fabuluje’s judgement settled the age-long dispute over the true ownership of the disputed Okunmo Community land between Orunto, Olusote and Orolalatan families in the council area.

 

The suit has as claimants Apostle Akinijise Olajide, Bishop Joel Obamomi, Mr. Hendoro Joseph, and Mr. Ajimuda Raphael. They filed the suit on behalf of themselves and on behalf of the Olusote family and Orolalatan family of Okunmo, while

Chief Akinyemi Orunto is defending on behalf of himself and on behalf of the Orunto Stock of the Orolalatan family of Okunmo.

 

Through their lawyer, A.O Oyinbo, the claimants had sought a declaration that they are the ancient owners from time immemorial and are the persons entitled to a customary right of occupancy over all that piece or parcel of land known as Okunmo Land which is situate on the right and left sides of Igbokoda/Okitipupa Express Road.

 

Also, they sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant’s stock of the Orolalatan family by themselves, agents, and privies or otherwise, however, from parading themselves as the sole owner of the land, the subject matter in dispute.

 

The claimants also sought an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, whether by himself, agents, privies or otherwise, however, from cutting the claimants’ crops, preventing the claimants’ members from farming on the land or in any other manner whatsoever from further trespassing on the land in dispute.

 

But the defendants, through their counsel, Oluwanike Omotayo, said the Orunto family had a judgment

in suit number HOK/76/2014 between Franklin Orunto vs China Railway Construction Company, which gave them the authority over

the disputed land.

 

In his verdict, Justice Fabuluje held that the claimants, having proved their case, have customary right of occupancy over all that piece or parcel of land known as Okunmo Land

 

The judge said the findings of this court showed that the Orunto family is one of the stock of Orolalatan. The Court, however, held the defendants are not the sole owners of the community land.

 

The Court held that the Orunto Stock of Orolalatan, Olusote and Orolalatan families are joint owners of the disputed land, saying they cannot be trespassers. Consequently, the court declined to award damages to the claimants.

 

Justice Fabuluje gave a declaration that “the claimants are the ancient owners from time immemorial and are persons entitled to a customary right of occupancy over all that piece or parcel of land known as Okunmo Land which is situate on the right- and left-hand side of Igbokoda/Okitipupa Express Road.”

 

The court also granted “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendant’s stock of Orolalatan family by themselves, agents and privies or otherwise however from parading themselves as the sole owner of the land in dispute.

 

The court further granted “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants, their agents and privies or otherwise, however, from cutting the claimants’ crops, preventing the claimants’ members from farming on the land or in any other manner whatsoever from further trespassing on the land in dispute.”