— Calls for Attorney General’s Intervention

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Leaders of Okumo community in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State have called on the state government to urgently intervene in a looming land dispute that threatens the peace of the community.

The community leaders raised concerns over the actions of the Orunto family, who claim to possess a court judgment that entitles them to evict all residents from the area.

In a petition addressed to the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Kayode Ajulo, SAN, the community, represented by their attorney, David Ebriku Esq. of Gbenga Adebugbe & Co Chambers, expressed fears of a potential breach of peace and the possibility of communal conflict.

According to the petition, the Orunto family had, in 2014, initiated a legal action (Suit No. HOK/76/2014: Franklin Orunto vs. China Railway Construction Company & Ors), challenging the company for sand excavation activities on a portion of land in the community.

The court ruled in favor of the Orunto family, ordering the respondents to vacate the specified area. However, during the attempted execution of the judgment, Franklin Orunto allegedly tried to extend the scope of the ruling to cover the entire community, leading to rising tensions.

Community members, claiming they were not aware of the initial court proceedings, resisted the move. This led to a conflict, prompting them to approach the same High Court. On April 24, 2024, the court issued an order halting any further execution of the judgment.

Despite the court’s directive, community leaders allege that miscreants have continued to invade and attack residents under the guise of enforcing the judgment.

In their petition to the Attorney General, the community urged immediate intervention to prevent what they described as an impending communal crisis in Okitipupa.

The petition read in part: “Our clients informed us that sometime in 2022, individuals claiming to be representatives of the Okitipupa High Court arrived in Okumo to execute a judgment. To the dismay of our clients, these individuals presented a court judgment that our clients were unaware of.”

“Our clients later discovered that the judgment in Suit No. HOK/76/2014 ordered the eviction of occupants of the disputed land. However, on April 24, 2024, the same High Court of Ondo State issued an order staying the execution of that judgment.”

The community expressed concerns that the continued attempts to enforce the judgment, despite the stay order, could escalate tensions and endanger lives.

The petition concluded by calling on the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice to intervene swiftly, stating, “Our clients can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed for fear of being attacked by thugs.”