“Slap On Judiciary Process”: Court Officials, Lawyers Attacked While Executing Justice Yussuf’s 1997 Judgment In Osun Land Case
The family of the late Mrs. Sinatu Adeoye on Wednesday condemned what they described as unholy attacks launched by a group of individuals allegedly seeking to stall the execution of a judgment delivered by an Osun State High Court in a long-standing land dispute along the Osogbo/Ikirun Road.
The disputed land, located in Olorunda Local Government Area, covers areas including Steel Rolling, Power Line, Ile Dagbolu, and the Bidire Family House, as captured in survey plan number OS/1378/2024/CP001.
Justice R. O. Yussuf, on February 26, 1997, delivered a judgment in Suit No. HOS/71/1993, granting a perpetual injunction restraining the defendant, Hephzibah Holdings Ltd, and its agents from trespassing on land belonging to Madam Sinatu Adeoye, who was the plaintiff in the case.
After the exhaustion of all avenues for appeal, the family returned to court seeking the enforcement of the judgment. Justice A. O. Adebiyi subsequently granted them leave to execute the judgment on February 20, 2025.
However, when the court bailiffs, accompanied by the family’s legal representative, Lekan Alabi, Esq., security personnel from the Nigeria Police and Civil Defence Corps, as well as journalists, arrived at the Jaye Filling Station area on Friday, May 10, 2025, they were violently resisted.
According to eyewitnesses, some individuals confronted the legal team, manhandled the lawyers, hurled stones at court officials, and issued threats of violence if any structures were marked for demolition.
It reportedly took the intervention of security operatives to rescue the officials, as a group of hoodlums had mobilised en masse in an attempt to disrupt the execution by force.
Speaking on behalf of the Adeoye family, Mr. Najeem Popoola described the incident as a “slap on judicial processes”, condemning the brazen disregard for a valid court order.
