…owners to file contempt
On Thursday, March 28th in Kelebe area of Osogbo, Osun state capital, Men of the Nigerian Army from Ede Command chased away Kelebe-Omu Land owners from taken possession of their lands after Court Judgement.
Correspondent who witnessed the scene said as the bulldozer was on the land for clearing, when some uniform men stormed the areas to stop the clearing of the land by the Kelebe-Omu Land owners.
“Stop clearing now, come down from the tractor… If you continue I will release gun”, our correspondent captured the voice of one of the three Soliders who came fully armed to chase away the contractor and landowners from the land, was saying.
As the Army insisted that the clearing must stop immediately.
Umar Farouq Mohammed, the legal counsel for the Kelebe-Omu land owners association, has raised alarm on why the Nigerian Army has refused to obey the Court order after written series of petitions to the Nigerian Army, Chief of Army staff, Attorney general of the federation but no response from either of the parties involved.
The Lawyer described the conduct of the military men as illegal and said necessary steps shall be taken.
“We will approach the court to file a contempt against the Nigerian Army,” He said
“The Kelebe-Omu Land Owners Association said they’re ready to file a contempt of the court suit against the Nigeria Army over a continued trespass
“We’re here to implement the judgement of the Court on this land after collecting warrant of execution. Only for the Army officers to forcefully chased away the operators and stop us. This act is illegal and we shall be filing a contempt of the court against them, as no appeal has been filed on judgement within 3 months as the time has elapsed.
The Counsel to the Association also Counselled Nigerian Army to educate their men on the need to follow process and obey court order, then learn from other countries.
Reacting, the chairman of the Kelebe-Omu land owners Association, Amodu Akanbi, cried out to Chief of Army staff, Lt. Gen. Taoreed Lagbaja to stop his men from further harassing them, order his men to vacate the lands and obey court order.
“We are peaceful people in Osogbo, we want peace for our nation, Osun state and local government area, that’s why we ignore the threat and harassment of Army personnel against us in our fathers land, as Army are still selling our lands for people to build house, farming and commercial Business even after the court Judgment, this is uncalled for, and it has to be stopped,
“We are not happy, they should not push my people to the wall… Because we are not going to relent in taken possession over our lands” The Chairman said
The aggrieved people across the 45b family compounds in Osogbo and Olorunda Local Government of Osun State, were sighted at the scene shouted, “Justice must prevailed”, “we are not fools”, “Nigerian Army should obey the Court Judgement”, President Bola Tinubu, Chief of Army staff should call their men to order”.
Video here…
Other photos here…
Recalled that the Osun State High Court had in January 2023, declared that the Army should vacate the land.
