Don’t tamper with disputed Eredo land, appellants warn Adegbajo ruling house
The Soje family has appealed against the judgement of Justice W. Animahun of the Lagos State High Court, Epe which delivered judgement in favour of the Adegbajo Royal family over a disputed land in Eredo community, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The subject matter of appeal, the piece of land at Atake – Mafara, Semisolose, Taramigbuya , Agodo and Igbonla all in Eredo has been at the centre of a protracted dispute between the Soje family and Adegbajo family, consequent upon which the Adegbajo family filed suit number EPD /5231LMW/2017 against the the Soje family at the Lagos High Court, Epe.
Representing the claimants family in the suit are Honourable Sakiru Adesanya Adebanjo, Hon. Olusola Adebo, Mr Adeleke Oshunkoya, Mr Morufu Akodu, Mrs Keji Adewale and Mr Shona Owoseni.
The Soje family on their part were represented by Mr. Tijani Ismaila Olalekan , Mr Sadiku Fatai, Honourable Lateef Adesanya and Mr Waidi Tijani as defendants.
After hearing both parties Justice W. Animahun on the 12th of February 2026 delivered judgement in favour of the Adegbajo family.
Dissatisfied with the judgement of Justice W. Animahun the Soje family through their counsel, Mr James Babatunde Alara filed a Notice of Appeal Number CA/LAG/CV/426/2026 at the Court of Appeal Lagos Division challenging the judgement.
In the Notice of Appeal, the appellants averred that the leaned trial judge erred in law when the court granted the claim of the claimants despite the claimants’ failure to discharge the legal burden of proof placed on them in law.
Appellants also averred that the trial judge erred in law when the court held that the defendants paid tribute to the claimants and therefore the claimants were the customary owners of the land despite the competing evidence of the parties in relation to traditional evidence contrary to the established principle.
It was further stated that the judge erred in law when he simply held that payment of gifts occasionally to the traditional ruler amounted to tribute and recognition of the claimants as their overlord among other grounds of the judgement to be contested on appeal.
Consequently the Soje family are asking the appellate court for the following releafs.
A reversal of the judgement of the lower court by setting aside the said judgement dated 12th February, 2026 and granting the counter claim of the appellants dated 26th June, 2025.
According to the affidavit filed in support of the Notice of Appeal, the appellants stated that they have huge investments on the lands subject matter of appeal which includes physical home abodes, farms with produces, factories and hundreds of persons residing, working and carrying out daily site activities on it.
They added that some people have been loving on the lands since 1999 and have invested heavily on it and that thier investment will be wasted except the application is granted.
Meanwhile in a move to prevent the dissipation of the subject matter and present the appellate court with fait accompli, the Soje family through their counsel, Mr James Babatunde Alara of Jimmy Alara Associates has written a letter with Ref. number OC/JA//SOJF/26, dated 8 June, 2026 to the Adegbajo Royal family warning against any attempts to dissipate the land which is subject matter of appeal either by selling or alienating it in any form while the appeal is pending.
In a letter addressed to the Adegbajo family and attention the Olisa of Odogbawojo, the Soje family said it has come to it’s notice that the Adegbajo family are erecting signboards around the disputed lands which is subject matter of appeal with invitation to members of the public to reach out to them.
They said this could cause chaos and make nugatory any decision that may be reached by the Court of Appeal at the end of the day. They therefore cautioned all parties to wait for the outcome of the appeal.
Meanwhile, no date has been fixed for hearing of the appeal.
