The Oyo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Adebayo Ojo has explained the rationale behind the acquisition of the land at Idi-Ishin Alalubosa area of Ibadan by the state government, saying that it was for the purpose of developing it into Government Reserved Area (GRA).
This was contained in a statement issued by the Attorney-General in Ibadan on Sunday.
Some landowners in Ibadan had dragged Governor Abiola Ajimobi, the Attorney-General as well as the Commissioner for Lands, Housing and Survey to court over the acquisition of the land by the state government.
They had prayed the court to declare the acquisition illegal and declare them the rightful owners of the land measuring 404.74 acres.
But the Attorney-General, in the statement, said that the legal action against the state government did not involve any traditional ruler.
Rather, he said, that only a faction of the land-owning families had sued the governor in his official capacity and also joined the Ministries of Justice and Lands, Housing and Survey over the land.
The land had formerly been acquired by the state for Nigerian Institute for Horticultural Research and Training (NIHORT) and the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) in Jericho and Idi-Ishin areas of Ibadan respectively.
The family had contended that since NIHORT and FRIN were unable to use the entire land, the un-used portion should be released to them, being the original owners.
Mr. Ojo said that the land was meant to be developed into a GRA as part of government's efforts at providing decent and affordable housing to the people of the state.
He also said those who filed the action against the government had been disclaimed by the real heads and members of the concerned families "as impostors and fraudsters'', saying that the suit was filed without their knowledge, consent and authority.
Via: Oyo State Government - Official Press Release