Over 100 Houses, School, Church Closed By land Grabbers In Ibadan Ordered For Reopening By Court

Over 100 houses, church, school and business centres has been ordered to be reopened by an Oyo State High Court on Friday.

The court ordered the immediate reopening of the structures which were forcefully put under lock and key by some gun wielding land grabbers last week Thursday in Ibadan, Oyo State capital.

Many of whom were affected by the incident had fled the environment for fear of being attacked by the land grabbers who had laid siege to their properties and put their gates under lock and key.

The affected residents had stormed the court on Friday seeking for justice and the judge in charge of the case, Justice O.M. Olagunju, in his ruling, order that all the affected buildings be reopened with immediate effect to allow the fleeing residents regain their properties.

The land grabbers had gain asses to these properties when some policemen accompanied them last week following an alleged court order dated October 31, 2018 in the suit number 1/567/84 purportedly authorising them to take possession of the disputed lands in the area.

Justice Olagunju, however in his ruling on Friday declared that in the action filed by the plaintiffs against the defendants, there was no counterclaim.

He added that the dismissal of the plaintiff’s case did not, therefore, confer any right on the defendants and ordered that all sealed houses be immediately unsealed.

The residents who have been living on the land and whose houses were sealed by the defendants based on the execution of the court judgment filed the applications to set aside the execution.

One of the Counsel to a resident, Toyese Owoade, while speaking with journalists said, “A court of Justice is expected to dispense justice to all citizens regardless of his or her status in the society and that is why it is generally said that where there is a wrong, there is a remedy.

“The judgment of the court as rightly noted by the court did not confer any right on the defendants who levied execution”.

“It is trite law that in such circumstance where there is no positive order of court granting possession, a party has no right to apply for warrant for possession”.