Court Sets Aside Consent Judgment on Disputed 19.5 Hectares of Osun Govt Land

…Ruling to boost development, attract investors — Estate Developer

An Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo on Friday nullified a consent judgment and warrant of possession earlier granted to a family over a disputed 19.5 hectares of land belonging to the Osun State Government.

The court held that the consent judgment and writ of possession were improperly secured, thereby setting them aside.

Recall that the Osun State Government had commenced a housing estate project under a Public-Private Partnership arrangement, with Living Spring Estate handling the development. However, in 2022, a family represented by Prince Olalekan Salami challenged the government’s ownership of the land and obtained a consent judgment and warrant of possession.

However, Osun State Governor, Attorney-General and Commissioner of Land and Physical Development, filed an application before Justice Oyeyemi Oyebiyi to nullify the the purported consent judgement and warrant of possession which the family used to impede the development of the estate on the land.

Giving the ruling on Friday, Justice Oyebiyi granted the order to set aside consent judgement and warrant of possession or writ of possession of November 14th 2022 in Suit No. HOS/92/2021 between Prince Olalekan Salami and Governor of Osun State with two others, saying, “the judgment was obtained as a consent judgment by fraudulent misrepresentation and concealment of material facts.”

Speaking after the court session, the counsel to Osun State Government, Mr Philips Afolayan said “By implication of this ruling, Osun State Government is now the owner of the land and the plaintiff can’t go to the land.”

Also, the estate developer, Mr Oyinlola Oluwafeyijimi, said, “this ruling is a victory for the development of the Osun State. This will encourage investors to tap into the Osun government housing agenda.”