POSITION OF ETIKAN KINGDOM ON THE LAND DISPUTE BETWEEN THE KINGDOM AND EREKE

The attention of the Olikan of Etikanland and Etikan Kingdom's stakeholders have been drawn to one unsubstantiated rumour circulating on the cyberspace that a court had earlier dismissed the claims of the Olikan of Etikanland on the lordship and ownership of the land which Oke-Ereke trespassed to and is currently occupying. This is a lie from the pit of hell. The case over the ownership of Ereke is still before the Akure high court. Whoever is spreading this malicious and unfounded news is a mischief-maker. Here is the truth and nothing but the truth.

If the issue had been dismissed and statute-barred, why is the Akure High Court listening to such case and lawyers representing Ereke and Amapetu are still appearing in court in respect of the case? The truth is that, prior to 1982, Johnson Omo-ogun Alade, founder of Moferere Community took Ayetitun and the then Olikan of Etikanland, Oba C.M.O. Ikuesan to court over the ownership of the stretch of land between the present-day Ayetitun and Ode-Etikan, claiming that the land belonged to the Amapetu of Mahin Kingdom from whom he derived the right to occupy the land and that it was Amapetu who gave the Olikan a parcel of land on which his people settled. In the judgment of June 26, 1972, the regent of the Amapetu, High Chief Hosea Ojatunwase was in court when Hon C. Olu Ayela declared his judgment in favour of Etikan Kingdom. The major point and kernel of the judgment was that the Amapetu had no land around the area and did not have any right whatsoever, to give anyone land there. Oba Napoleon Mafimisebi, the then Olugbo of Ugbo Kingdom was in court as one of the most studious and impeccable historians in Ilajeland, to testify to the Olikan's claim of not sharing boundaries with the Amapetu at Igbekun the seaside region of Ilajeland.

For about 54 years, the judgment was neither appealed by either the Amapetu nor St. Johnson Omo-ogun Alade who instituted the suit then. In 1981/2, about 10 years after a court of competent jurisdiction had already apportioned the territory to the Olikan as a part and parcel of Etikan Kingdom, Oke-Ereke trespassed to the said land. Please, tell me, who owns the land? The judgment is valid evidence. In the present suit on the same land, Ereke people still made the same claims as Omo-ogun Alade made then, was slammed a fine and lost the case. Let's not, because falsehood and injustice favour us, throw truth into the wind. The interesting fact and twist of the case and history is that one of the enlightened and well-educated sons of St. Johnson Omo-ogun Alade mentioned in the case of 1972 who has now seen the light and had known the truth is now the Oloja of Moferere Community appointed by the Olikan of Etikanland.

The public will recall that early this January, 2026, the people of Ereke again went to destroy the landed property belonging to Andrew Alade fondly known as Ajagun at Ibode around the very Idi-Apaye in the judgment at Ode-Etikan, which is a part of the space covered in the judgment of 1972. This is a case of trespass and contempt of court. We are a kingdom of law-abiding, refined and admirably enlightened citizens at Ode-Etikan, the imperial seat and headquarters of Etikanland.

We appreciate the timely intervention of the able Chairman of Ilaje Local Government Area, Hon Maurice Oripenaye. However, the office of the chairman is yet to pay attention to the enormity of the damage done and its cost. As law-abiding citizens, we will respect the supremacy of the law with firm faith in the power of the court to grant us justice. We hereby, appeal to our people not to join trespassers in any unlawful act; continue to go about their daily hustles without fear of any harassment and continue to respect the rule of law.

High Chief (Sir) S. Ola Ajimisan, the Lema of Etikan Kingdom