The Adogun Atele family has filed legal action against former President Olusegun Obasanjo, asking the Ogun State High Court to restrain him and his farm, Obasanjo Farms Nigeria Limited, from further allegedly trespassing on their family land measuring 464.77 hectares situated at Sogunro-Itele Awori in Ado-Odo, Ogun State.
The claimants in the suit are the head of the family Nurudeen Akapo, Sunday Owotolu, Taoreed Dada and Monsuru Yusuf.
Named as third defendant in the suit is the Ogun State Bureau of Lands and Survey.
The claimants through their lawyer Gbenga Ajala said they are the affirmed founder and the first settler at Itele land comprising Ayetoro-Itele, Odan-Otun, Ajasa, Ejigun, Aparadija, Adeleye, Efura, Kongi, Lafenwa, Olugbode, Oguntedo, Beyioku, Egunjobi, Senikoro, Onifade and Sogunro villages.
They alleged that Obasanjo subjected them to harassment after he applied to the bureau in 2012 to issue him a certificate of occupancy on the disputed land.
A settlement meeting called by Obasanjo in November 2020 did not yield fruit, they said.
Among other prayers, the family is asking the court for “an order setting aside any documents of title purportedly executed in favour of the 1st and 2nd defendants on the claimants’ family land measuring an area of 464 hectares lying at Sogunro -Itele, Awori in Ado/Odo/Ota Ogun State and formed a small portion of vast expanse of land covered by survey plan number PEG/06/2001/025 drawn by J. O. Olorunkunle and Plan No LA/49/1946 drawn by Liasu Smith.”
