A High Court in Ondo State has issued an order for all parties involved in a protracted land ownership dispute to maintain the status quo pending the outcome of ongoing legal proceedings. The directive was handed down by Honourable Justice J.O. Abe during proceedings in Suit No: HCOD/33/CIV/202, which was heard at the Ondo Judicial Division.
The matter, brought before the court by Mr. Olufemi Olusegun Omoola Fasehun and others (claimants), involves allegations of unlawful possession and destruction of land jointly owned with the late Dr. Frederick Fasehun—founder of the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC)—and Ambassador Orobola Fasehun. The defendants in the case include Adewumi Fasehun, Felix Fasehun, and Mrs. Clara Ogunsanmi, popularly known as “Iya Eta.”
During the hearing, the claimants and their counsel, A.Y. Aliyu, appeared in court while the defendants were absent. In response, Justice Abe adjourned the matter to July 2, 2025, for mention and ordered that hearing notices be served to all absent parties. He further directed that no action should be taken on the contested land, thereby preserving the existing state of affairs until the legal issues are resolved.
Petition to Inspector General of Police
In a related development, Mr. Olufemi Fasehun has submitted a formal petition to the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, the Police Service Commission, and the Attorney General of the Federation, raising concerns over alleged misconduct and interference by certain police officers connected to the case.
According to the petition, Mr. Fasehun alleges that the defendants unlawfully accessed and tampered with the disputed land, leading to the destruction of economic trees, particularly palm trees, and possible illegal sales of portions of the property under disputed ownership claims.
He also accused officers within the Zone 17 Police Command in Akure, particularly the Officer-in-Charge of Monitoring, of undermining an earlier investigation initiated by the Ondo State Commissioner of Police. The redirection of the case to Zone 17, he claims, has stalled progress and raised questions about the integrity of the investigative process.
Mr. Fasehun called on the IGP to ensure transparency, impartiality, and fairness in handling the matter, stressing that the dispute represents larger concerns about land rights and access to justice in the region.
As at the time of publication, the Ondo State Police Command and Zone 17 authorities have not publicly responded to the petition or the allegations contained therein.