Tension is currently building up, as People of Okumo community in Okitipupa Local Government Area of Ondo State have called on the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of the state, Kayode Ajulo, SAN, to, as a matter of urgency, intervene and savage the looming crisis in the community.
In a petition addressed to the AG on Monday by the community through their attorney, David Ebriku Esq of Gbenga Adebugbe & Co Chambers, the Okumo community complained of conduct likely to cause breach of peace and attempt to cause communal war in the community by some people, named Orunto family, claiming they have a court judgement to chase all the residents away from the community.
It was stated that the Orunto family had in 2014, in suit number HOK/76/2014, Franklin Orunto vs China Railway Construction Company & ors, challenged the respondents which was scooping sand from their portion of land in the community.
The prayers of Franklin Orunto was granted and the respondents were ordered by the court to quit the portion of land.
However, the in attempt to execute the judgement, the Franklin Orunto attempted to extend the res to the entire community.
Meanwhile, the people of the community informed the Attorney General that they were not aware of any court process before the judgement.
When the Franklin Orunto attempted to forcefully eject the people, which led to fracas, the people of the community approached the same High Court and on April 24, 2024, the court ordered stoppage of further execution of the judgement.
Despite the court order, some miscreants have continuously invaded and attacked some of the residents.
The people of the community therefore approached the Attorney General for immediate intervention to prevent looming communal war in the Okitipupa Local Government Council community.
The petition reads in parts: “Our clients informed us that sometimes in 2022, there were in their community in Okumo where some people came in and claimed that they are from court in Okitipupa, to execute a judgement of the High Court and to our clients’ dismay, the said people brought a copy of the judgement of High Court, Okitipupa.
“Our clients further informed us that they were not even aware of any court process before the judgement.
“It has come to the knowledge of our clients that based on a judgement in suit number HOK/76/2014 between Franklin Orunto vs China Railway Construction Company & Ors,the High Court of Ondo State ordered the execution of the judgement in the case.
“It must be noted that on 24th April, 2024 the same High Court of Ondo State made another order stopping or staying the execution of the judgement.
“The same order have been served on the parties, the Orunto family, the unlawful execution of the judgement against members of Okumo community will cause crisis and endanger the whole community.
“It is on this note we find it necessary to formally inform your good office about the situation and the latest subsisting order of the Ondo State High Court stopping the purported execution of the purported judgement.
“We hereby call on you to intervene on our clients complaints as our clients can no longer sleep with their two eyes closed for fear of being attacked Orunto family thugs.”