Court of Appeal Confirms Oba Adeniyi Adinlewa’s Land Ownership in Igoba: Lawyers Seek Police Protection to Prevent Conflict
June, 8th 2025.
In a landmark judgment delivered by the Court of Appeal, Akure Division, in Appeal No. CA/AK/18/2021 on April 25, 2025, the court ruled in favour of Oba Adeniyi Adinlewa (the Obaloogun of Igoba) and three others, affirming their legal ownership of lands located in the Aleo and Imolumo communities within Igoba, Akure North Local Government Area of Ondo State.
The appellate court’s decision overturned parts of the earlier judgment by the lower court and upheld the plea of res judicata raised by the appellants—effectively preventing any further legal claims on the matter by the respondents. The judgment, delivered by Justice Fadawu Umaru and supported by Justices Folayemi Omoleye and Hadiza Rabiu Shagari, allowed the appeal and set aside specific reliefs previously granted in the respondents’ favour.
Those reliefs had earlier recognized the respondents’ claims to the land in question. However, the new judgment nullifies those claims, conclusively confirming that the respondents no longer hold any legal interest in the lands at Aleo and Imolumo.
The court also awarded costs of N400,000 to the appellants.
The judgment reaffirmed the legal interests of Oba Adinlewa and his co-appellants in the disputed land, stating that prior litigation had already settled the matter conclusively.
Following the court’s ruling, legal representatives of the appellants submitted a formal petition to the Nigeria Police, urging for urgent protection and intervention to maintain peace and order in the area. The appeal for police support was made in light of alleged continued provocations and unlawful entries onto the land by parties on the losing side of the judgment.
The petition noted that such actions, if left unchecked, could incite community unrest and undermine the authority of the court’s decision. The legal team stressed that their clients remain committed to peace and lawful dispute resolution.
They called on the police to enforce the court’s judgment and prevent any further unauthorized access to the land. They also emphasized that any party dissatisfied with the ruling has the right to appeal through lawful judicial processes, rather than resorting to disruptive behavior.
“The room is open to them to appeal against the said judgment,” the petition noted, “but not to incite crisis or defy lawful authority.”
The appellate court’s ruling relied on the principle of res judicata, a legal doctrine that bars parties from re-litigating a matter that has already been conclusively resolved by a competent court. The Court of Appeal held that the lower court had erred in granting certain reliefs despite the existence of earlier, binding judgments.
In the wake of the ruling, the appellants’ legal team is urging the authorities to act swiftly to prevent any potential breach of peace and to uphold the rule of law in the Igoba community.
Community leaders and residents are reportedly monitoring the situation closely, hopeful that the judgment will bring about calm and reinforce respect for judicial authority.
In a response to reports circulating online, Oba Adeniyi Adinlewa reiterated his position, stating:
“I am not a land grabber. The Court of Appeal has ruled in my favour.”
