In a landmark judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, in Appeal No. CA/AK/18/2021, on 25 of April, 2025, the court ruled in favour of Oba Adeniyi Adinlewa (the Obaloogun of Igoba) and three others, affirming their ownership rights over the disputed lands located in Aleo and Imolumo communities within Igoba, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The court’s decision overturned parts of the earlier judgment by the lower court and reinforced the plea of res judicata raised by the appellants, effectively barring any further claims on the same matter by the respondent, Mr. Peter Akomolafe.
The appellate court, in its unanimous decision delivered by Justice Fadawu Umaru and supported by Justices Folayemi Omoleye and Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, allowed the appeal and set aside reliefs e, f, and h earlier granted in favour of Mr. Akomolafe.
Those reliefs that were set aside by the court of Appeal, initially gave Elder Peter Akomolafe and his cohorts ownership of the land at Aleo and Imolumo.
But with the latest judgment of the court of Appeal, Peter Akomolafe and his cohorts don’t have any land in Igoba anymore.
The false claims of Peter Akomolafe and his cohorts over the land at Aleo and Imolumo Igoba in the face of the judgment of the Court of Appeal is mischievous and misleading. And the whole public should be aware and be careful with them.
The court also awarded N400,000 in costs to the appellants.
The judgment recognized the legal interests of Oba Adinlewa and his co-appellants in the disputed land, confirming that previous claims brought against them were conclusively settled in earlier suits.
Following the judgment, legal representatives of the appellants have formally written to the Nigeria Police, seeking urgent intervention to maintain peace in the area.
The letter, addressed to the police authorities, was submitted by the solicitors acting on behalf of Oba Adeniyi Adinlewa and Chief Olumuyiwa Falowe (Chief Sasere of Igoba), citing persistent threats and provocations by the losing party, Mr. Peter Akomolafe, and his alleged agents.
According to the petition, despite the court’s clear ruling, Mr. Akomolafe and his alleged accomplices including Chief Mrs. Folake Disu and Mr. Oluwatope Abaniyegbe have continued to make unlawful entries onto the land.
The letter alleges that these actions were carried out with the assistance of armed thugs and police officers, some of whom were reportedly from the Nigeria Police Force in Akure, thus raising serious concerns about the potential for unrest and violence in the community.
The appellants’ legal team emphasized that their clients remain committed to peace and lawful resolution of disputes.
However, they warned that the continued incursion onto the land, despite a valid court ruling, could incite community tension and disrupt public order.
They therefore called upon the police to enforce the judgment and prevent any further unauthorized access to the land by Mr. Akomolafe or his representatives.
The legal counsel also reminded the authorities that if Mr. Akomolafe or any of the respondents wished to challenge the ruling, the appropriate course of action would be to file an appeal in accordance with the law, rather than resorting to self-help and intimidation.
“The room is open to them to appeal against the said judgment,” the letter read, “but not to incite crisis or defy lawful authority.”
It should be noted that the Court of Appeal’s judgment relied heavily on the principle of res judicata, which prevents parties from re-litigating the same issue once it has been conclusively resolved by a competent court.
The court found that the lower court erred in granting certain reliefs to the respondent despite the previous decisions that had settled the ownership dispute in favour of the appellants.
As the situation unfolds, the appellants’ representatives are urging the Nigeria Police to act swiftly to prevent any potential breach of peace and to ensure that the rule of law prevails in Igoba.
Community leaders and residents are reportedly watching the situation closely, hoping for the restoration of calm and respect for judicial authority in the wake of the appellate court’s decision.
In his swift reaction to online news sponsored by the family of Elemo of Igoba, Oba Adinlewa said he is not a land grabber as the appellate court has rightly justified.
“I’m not a land grabber, Court of Appeal has ruled in my favour”, he said.
