Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development (FMARD), Chief Audu Ogbeh, has decried the trespass to the land of the Federal College of Agriculture (FECA), Akure by the locals, expressing optimism that the courts would help the school reclaim them.

Speaking during the FECA diamond jubilee celebration last week, the minister, represented by South West Regional Director and 1985 set alumnus of the college, Joseph Adeniyi Ogunwale, read riot act to trespassers on the college’s land. 

This was consequent upon six count charges at an Akure Magistrate Court against the Olugele of Ugele community in Akure North LGA of the state, Oba Clement Aladegbaye Falodun over destruction of FECA properties worth N830m in suit No MAK/241C/2017.

However, a court judgment at Akure High Court, suit No AK/279/2012, had favoured Falodun on November 27, 2017, but was appealed by Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Abuja and FECA.

The appellants stipulated that the judgment of the lower court is against the weight of evidence.

The appeal, with suit No CA/AK/199/2016, was adjourned to January 8, 2018, but Falodun insisted that there was no subsisting appeal against the judgment. He claimed the institutions’ land belonged to him. 

Identifying land-grabbing, illegal destruction of farms and plantations as the major challenges facing FECA, Ogbeh reiterated that the Federal Government would not allow such wilful destruction of government properties. 
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