Court Transfers Case Of 3,646 Acres of Land Allegedly Acquired By Nigerian Army To State High Court in Osun

By Tunde Olorungbotemi

The Federal High Court has ordered the transfer of case filed by Kelebe-Omu Landowners Association against the Military Force(Nigerian Army) to the office of the State's Chief Justice of State of Osun high court for trial.

3,646 Acres of Land Allegedly Acquired By Nigerian Army in Osun

In unanimous judgment read on Tuesday, 3rd of March by Justice Ayo of the Federal High Court, Osogbo struck out the suit filed by the association to challenge the acquisition of the land. Justice Ayo said the "Federal High Court lacks jurisdiction to continue with the case and transfer the case to the State High Court for further ruling."

Despite the judgment given in the year 2012 that granted the Federal High Court to sit on same suit, narrating that the players included the mapping out of large expanse of land boundary which should be heard by the jurisdiction of State High Court.

The case was filed by Kelebe-Omu Landowners association against the Nigerian Army for allegedly acquired land amounting to 3,646 acres proudly belong to their families without consultation or approval from them. The association were represented by the traditional ruler of Kelebe community, Chief Amodu, Alfas and others.

A copy of the judgment, was made available to our correspondent in Osogbo on Tuesday.

While speaking with the leading counsel to the plaintiff, Mr. Umar Muhammad said that the hope of Kelebe-Omu landowners has not dashed, hoping that victory await them as they will be asking the State High Court to grant their players with valid prove.

Muhammad added that despite the previous rulings in 2012 and 2015 in favour of the Federal High Court on jurisdiction on same matter using the basis of inclusion of Federal Agencies as defendants, adding that the court usually rules by the discretion of the judge in accordance with law.

Recall that the Federal Government had in 1973 directed the Nigerian Army to acquire land across the state of the Federation and Capital Tertiary for official purposes.

Court Transfers Case Of 3,646 Acres of Land Allegedly Acquired By Nigerian Army To State High Court in Osun

The actual time when the case will be transfered to State of Osun High Court for subsequence ruling on the players filed by the plaintiff will be communicated to you by this media.

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