LOKOJA – The Kogi State Ministry of Justice has been asked to obtain the true certified copy of the Supreme Court judgment on the dispute between Iyamoye and Ekinrin Ade land in Kogi State.
The Deputy Governor of the state, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, who urged the communities to embrace peace, gave the directive at a stakeholders’ meeting on the dispute held in Lokoja on Thursday.
Awoniyi, who is the chairman Kogi State Boundary Committee, said the stakeholders resolved that the true certified copy of the judgment should be obtained from the Supreme Court.
“This will help to address the contradictions and inconsistencies noticed in the different copies of the Supreme Court judgment presented by different groups involved in the land dispute.’
The stakeholders meeting was for the presentation of joint field team report carried out on the field tracing and provisional demarcation.
The exercise was directed by the Supreme Court judgment on the Iyamoye/Ekinrin – Ade land dispute in 1995.
Awoniyi commended the people for their efforts to settle the matter legally rather than resorting to violence, noting that no meaningful development could be achieved in an atmosphere of rancor.
He said the certified true copy would validate or repudiate the tracing exercise that was conducted.
He said the exercise was not meant to divide the people but to encourage harmonious relationship and economic development.
Earlier, the Surveyor General of the State, Mr Moses Oguns, said the National Boundary Commission directed the tracing of Iyamoye/Ekinrin–Ade boundary.
He said this followed the Supreme Court judgment of 1995.
Mr Dayo Akanmode, the Vice–Chairman of Ijumu Local Government Area, urged the communities to continue to maintain peace, and imbibe the spirit of give and take to resolve the dispute. (NAN)
