ONDO STATE HIGH COURT, Akure DECLARED THE FEDERAL MINISTRY OF NIGER DELTA AFFAIRS’ ACQUISITION OF LAND AT AGADAGBA-OBON A NULLITY, AWARDS #175,000,000.00 (ONE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE MILLION NAIRA) AS COMPENSATION TO THE KEKEMEKE FAMILY.
The Ondo State High Court presided over by Hon. Justice Peter Ikujuni on Thursday, 1st July, 2021 gave judgment in Suit No: HOK/31/2013 between the Kekemeke family of Agadagba-obon, Ondo State and Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs.
The Suit was initiated to challenge the legality and Validity of the purported acquisition of the approximately 20 hectares of land at Agadagba obon, Ondo State where the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs has built a Skill Acquisition Centre.
Upon the hearing of the evidence, the Court formulated three issues for determination to wit: Whether the Claimants proved their title to the land in dispute;
Whether the Defendant showed that it followed due process in its acquisition of the said land
Whether the Claimants are entitled to all their reliefs.
The Court agreed with Claimants Counsel, Oju Kekemeke Esq, that “the issue of Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs’ acquisition of the land in dispute looks like a case of “wuruwuru to the answer” in Nigerian social parlance.
Consequently, the Court resolved all three issues in favour of the Claimants and ordered that the sum of #175,000,000.00 (one hundred and seventy five Million Naira) only be paid to the Kekemeke family by the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs as the open market value and amount due to the Claimants as owners of the said land in Agadagba obon.
The Court also ordered that 10% interest per annum be paid on the judgment sum by the Defendant from the date of judgment until the judgment is liquidated.
Oju Kekemeke Esq., represented the Claimants while Isyaku Saleh, Esq. represented the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs in the court.
