Family appeals Epe land judgement, warns against fresh sales

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The Soje family has appealed the judgement of the Lagos State High Court in Epe, which declared the Adegbajo Ruling House the customary owner of a disputed parcel of land in Eredo Community, Epe Local Government Area of Lagos State.

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The appeal follows the February 12, 2026 judgement delivered by Justice W. Animahun in Suit No. EPD/5231LMW/2017, instituted by members of the Adegbajo family against the Soje family over ownership of land located at Atake-Mafara, Semisolose, Taramigbuya, Agodo and Igbonla in Eredo.

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The claimants in the suit were represented by Honourable Sakiru Adesanya Adebanjo, Hon. Olusola Adebo, Adeleke Oshunkoya, Morufu Akodu, Keji Adewale and Shona Owoseni, while the defendants were represented by Tijani Ismaila Olalekan, Sadiku Fatai, Honourable Lateef Adesanya and Waidi Tijani.

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Dissatisfied with the judgement, the Soje family, through its counsel, James Alara, filed a Notice of Appeal marked CA/LAG/CV/426/2026 before the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal, seeking to overturn the High Court’s decision.

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In the appeal, the appellants argued that the trial judge erred in law by granting the claim despite what they described as the claimants’ failure to discharge the burden of proof required by law.

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They also challenged the finding that the Soje family paid tribute to the Adegbajo family, contending that the court wrongly concluded that such payments established the claimants as the customary owners of the land.

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According to the appellants, the trial judge failed to properly evaluate the competing traditional evidence before the court and erroneously treated occasional gifts presented to a traditional ruler as proof of tribute and acknowledgment of the claimants as overlords.

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The Soje family is urging the Court of Appeal to set aside the judgement delivered on February 12, 2026, and grant its counterclaim filed on June 26, 2025.

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In an affidavit filed in support of the appeal, the appellants stated that they and other occupants have substantial investments in the disputed land, including residential buildings, farms, factories and other developments.

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They further claimed that hundreds of people reside and conduct business activities on the property, with some occupants having lived there since 1999 and having made significant investments.

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According to them, those investments could be jeopardised if the status of the land is altered before the appeal is determined.

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Meanwhile, the Soje family has cautioned the Adegbajo Ruling House against selling, transferring, or otherwise dealing with the disputed land while the appeal is pending.

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In a letter dated June 8, 2026, with reference number OC/JA/SOJF/26, addressed to the Adegbajo family and copied to the Olisa of Odogbawojo, counsel to the Soje family warned against any attempt to dissipate the subject matter of the appeal.

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The family alleged that members of the Adegbajo Ruling House had begun erecting signboards on portions of the disputed land, inviting members of the public to transact with them.

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It warned that any such action could complicate the dispute and render any eventual decision of the Court of Appeal ineffective.

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The Soje family urged all parties to maintain the status quo pending the determination of the appeal.

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No date has been fixed for the hearing of the appeal.

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