Thousands of residents and property owners in Olomore, Lafenwa, Araromi Oke-Odo and adjoining communities in Abeokuta, Ogun State, may soon face displacement as the Shotoye Alakaloko family begins moves to enforce court judgments affirming its ownership of a vast stretch of land long occupied by the affected communities.
The development follows official approval reportedly granted to the family by the Ogun State Ministry of Justice, authorising it to take possession of the disputed land, formerly known as Alakaloko Village and estimated at more than one million hectares.
Findings show that the dispute dates back to the year 2000, when the neighbouring Lumosa family instituted a suit — AB/82/2000 — against the Alakaloko family at the Ogun State High Court, seeking a declaration of statutory right of occupancy over land “lying and being at Araromi Oke-Odo, Abeokuta,” among other reliefs.
The disputed expanse covers several communities, including the popular Olomore Hausa Pepper Market, Alaka-Araromi, Iyana-Owo, Adura-L’agba, Harmony Estate, and areas stretching toward the breweries axis of Abeokuta North Local Government.
However, in its judgment of August 28, 2009, delivered by Justice E.O. Osinuga, the High Court ruled in favour of the Shotoye Alakaloko family, declaring it the rightful owner of the land.
The Lumosa family appealed the ruling in Appeal No. CA/I/165/2011, but the Court of Appeal sitting in Ibadan upheld the High Court’s decision. In the Certified True Copy of the appellate judgment dated March 20, 2015, a three-man panel led by Justice Obietonbara Daniel-Kalio dismissed the appeal and affirmed the Alakaloko family’s ownership.
After more than 25 years of litigation, the Alakaloko family has now commenced steps to take possession of the land and has requested government-backed security to enforce the judgments.
In a letter dated September 11, 2025, signed by the Ogun State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwasina Ogungbade, the Ministry of Justice acknowledged the family’s request and indicated readiness to provide necessary legal support for enforcement.
Speaking with journalists in Abeokuta on Wednesday, the head of Alakaloko Village, Chief Nurudeen Sulaimon Alakaloko — popularly known as the Baale of Alakaloko — said the family could begin enforcement “at any moment.”
He urged landlords and property owners within the affected area to approach the family or its legal representatives for possible regularisation of their titles.
