Court reserves ruling in Ladigbolu family, Ajimobi N16 billion land dispute
Abiola Ajimobi, Governor of Oyo State
Parties in the lingering legal tussle over the large expanse of land measuring 404.74 hectares around the National Horticultural Research Institute, NIHORT, Ibadan, may have to wait till November 23 to know the next direction in the matter.
Reason: An Ibadan High Court has reserved ruling on the admissibility of a document tendered by one of the plaintiffs in the N16 billion-land dispute involving the Ladigbolu family of Ibadan and Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State.
The concerned families under the leadership of Chief Ganiyu Ladigbolu and 21 others had filed a suit against Governor Ajimobi, the state Attorney -General and four others over the parcel of land.
At the last sitting, the 3rd prosecution witness, Adeniyi Dada Bolarinwa told the court that it was Baale Lasogun who is now one of the defendants in the case that gave him Letter of Attorney as the Managing director of STAD Investment Company Ltd to be the representative of the entire family on the 404.74 hectares of land now in dispute.
Bolarinwa who was led in evidence by his counsel, Olayinka Abiose told the court that he made three statements to the police on May 2, 2013, December 12, 2013 and June 20 2016 in respect of the case.
The STAD boss also explained that the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development had through a letter dated April 20, 2011 invited him on behalf of the family over the land based on the Letter of Attorney given to him by the family.
Though, Bolarinwa told the court that the original copy of the letter was kept by the Ministry of Land Housing and Urban Development, attempt to tender its copy was opposed by counsel to the defendants.
According to the defence counsel, the plaintiff did not lay proper foundation for the tendering of the copy and at the same time did not inform them that he was going to tender such a letter as an exhibit.
It was at this point that the trial Judge, Justice Adegboye Gbolagunte adjourned the case to November 23, 2016 for ruling.
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