A controversial land matter involving a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Michaeel Fasanu and a Chartered Engineer, Sowunmi Olatunji came up for trial at the high court located along Abeokuta-Kobape Road in Abeokuta, Ogun State Capital.
The suit number AB/657/2025 which came up on Monday, May, 18,2026 at Court 7 before, Justice B.B Adewole had in attendance Sowunmi as claimant and Fasanu as defendant, while the land in contention is located at quarter 192 Gbadebo Road Government Reservation Area (GRA), Ibara, Abeokuta.
The statement of claim added that the parcel of land is said to be measuring approximately 6,174, 090 square meter, which the claimant alleged that the defendant unlawfully trespassed upon.
Sowunmi argued that he is the beneficial owner of the land, adding that the property was one of the several properties owned by the federal government stating that sometime in or about 2010, federal government announced its intention to dispose of its least interest in various properties owned by its across the federation.
The claimant in the statement of claim explained that a total sum of N15,315, 195 comprising the consideration of N14, 585, 900 for the leasehold interest in the property, together with statutory fees for the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy and other ancillary charges were met.
The claimant said it was in the course of developing the land that he discovered that the property had, infact been encroached upon in part, from the back fence off, by the defendant.
The claimant added that the defendant has not only wrongly encroached upon the said portion of the property but has also taken steps to dispose off the same by advertising and offering the encroached portion of the property for sale at a substantial monetary value
The Monday sitting, the claimant opened his case and adopted his witness statement on oath, and equally tendered his documents of title to support his claim that the property initially belonged to federal government.
The claimant was thereafter, crossed examined by the defendant, who appeared for himself as counsel in the matter, while a surveyor, Adeaga also gave evidence on behalf of the claimant that he produced a dispute survey and composite plan to show the land in dispute which the claimant claimed that the defendant trespassed on, and was equally crossed examined
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) Mr Sina Sofola appeared for the claimant, with his team of lawyers, while Michael Abiodun Fasanu in same vein, appeared for himself with his team of lawyers.
Meanwhile, the judge, thereafter, scheduled the continuation of the trial of the case to July 2, 2026 following agreement of Fasanu and Sofela counsels for both parties.