By Mumini AbdulKareem and Kayode Adeoti
Erinle and Offa communities in Kwara South senatorial district at the weekend disagreed over the recent Supreme Court Judgement on the age-long boundary dispute between the two neighbouring towns.
The apex court led by Justice Mary Ukaegbo Peter-Odili and other four justices of the court in an unanimous decision had on Friday 21st, December 2018 delivered the judgment which dismissed the appeal of Offa on the issue as an abuse of court process and on the principle of ‘estoppel per rem judicatem” while awarding N500, 000 cost to the applicants.
The issue has been a subject of litigation since 1973.
But since the judgement, the two communities have provided varying interpretations to the issue.
According to the National President of the Erinle Descendant Union (EDU), Samuel Olu-Alabi, the court with the judgement has finally ceded the land of Erinle that is now in Offa to the rightful owner adding that the community will peacefully enforce the judgement.
“In 1973 pursuant to an administrative judicial panel headed by Justice Daramola, we got a supreme court judgement on December 10, 1973 confirming the boundary of Erinle reaching as far as the NEPA Office and the present Offa Descendant Union (ODU) office and several other places confirming the ownership of the land to the people of our community.
He said the community is still studying the judgement and has set up a committee to review it even as he advised the EPU, the Elerin of Erin-Ile, among other stakeholders on the way forward.
“But unlike in 1973 that we didn’t take step, this time around, we are going to repossess our land peacefully and in accordance with the rule of the court. This is because I am a peace loving person and I assure anybody that during my time as the EPU president, there will not be a single drop of blood of anybody over any issue, not even land. No item worth the blood of anybody, not even land.
“And I have advised our youths to remain calm and not to over jubilate which at times might incur the wrath of the other person. We will not result to self-help which has led to the ugly situation we witnessed in the past but will follow established procedure
When contacted, the immediate past Secretary-General of ODU, Mrs Wosilat McCarty declined comment and told National Pilot that the community is careful in making any comment that might be misinterpreted.
But the ODU National President, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, called on the state government to prevail on the people of Erinle over the matter from spreading what he described as false claims over the judgment.
According to him, “Contrary to the claim of Erin-Ile, Supreme Court did not award any land to Erin-Ile. The land dispute between Offa and Erin-Ile dates back to the Adaramola’s boundary report which awarded part of Offa land to Erin-Ile.
“The decision was challenged up to the Supreme Court and the Court held that it is only the Governor of Kwara State that can vary that decision going by the law setting up the boundary commission.
“The present case arose from some families in Offa who want their ancestral land wrongly given to some families in Erin-Ile. The Supreme Court recent ruling struck out the appeal on technical grounds of improper parties before the court and the matter haven been settled by previous decision of the Supreme Court.
“The Dr Funsho Daramola’s report have been varied by different military governments of Kwara State. In 1975, Col. Ibrahim Taiwo amended the Bamgboye’s edict to set aside the Dr Funsho Daramola’s report and in its place, set up a committee of traditional rulers headed by the late Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Zulu Karnaeni Gambari, which eventually fixed the boundary at the crest of hill between the two community called ‘Kere Ipinle’, a peace accord was signed by both community…
“Offa reiterates its position that Supreme Court has not awarded any land to Erin-Ile. The Kwara State government is hereby called upon to caution Erin Ile from creating problems”.
“In 1985, Group Captain Salaudeen Latinwo published an advertorials acquiring some 500meters on both sides of Kere ipinle boundary line for buffer zone. In 1986, Wing Commander Ndatsu Umoru surveyed the buffer zone with register beacons and deposit accordingly. In 1997 Col PAM Ogar (MILAD) signed the buffer zone into law and gazettes it accordingly. It is now crystal clear that various Governments had varied severally, the decision of Dr. Funsho Daramola report and is no longer valid. Offa therefore rejects any claim to land by Erin beyond the present status quo. Offa will not concede any part of its land to Erin-Ile.
“Offa reiterates its position that Supreme Court has not awarded any land to Erin-Ile. The Kwara State government is hereby call upon to caution Erin Ile from creating problems.”
