The Kelebe-Omu Landowners Association has accused the Nigerian Army of illegal sales of land to individuals for private use.
Speaking on behalf of the Association at a press conference on Tuesday in Osogbo, Badmus Waheed Olaniyan alleged that the Army has repeatedly violated the law and not following the judgments of the court.
The statement reads ,” The defendant, “post- service development limited” Incorporated by the Nigerian Army to manage the land placed a advertorial banner to continue the unlawful lay out of the land into residential estate and sells same plot-by-plot to private individuals upon purchase of a Post-Service Housing Scheme Military Application Form for a fee.
“The said company, in the name of Nigerian Army had been issuing permits at agreed prices to members of the public for sand/gravel digging and haulage; construction of fish ponds; farming camps; hewing and haulage of firewood; palm oil prospecting; collection of levies ‘Isakole’ (tributes) like oil, palm-wine, yams and kolanuts; felling of trees and sawmilling them into timber logs and planks; destruction of kolanut and palm trees within the said land.
“As we speak, if any of you sitting here want to buy land from the Nigerian Army for your private or commercial use, it would be sold to you illegally by the agent of the Nigerian Army. Our land is being sold plot-by-plot in the sum of N7.5 million for 500sqm and N15 million for 1000sqm to private individuals upon purchase of a Post-Service Housing Scheme Military Application Form for N10,000 from its Osogbo office including a non-refundable processing fee of N100,000 and N150,000 respectfully into a Zenith bank account number 1013309582.
“We are using this medium to inform the general public that all steps and transactions taken by the Nigerian Army on the Kelebe-Omu land after the January 10 Court judgment are illegal. And that the public should be cautioned against buying land belonging to us from any again or body illegally”.
The Association advised that the government should henceforth mandate a greater punishment against any individual, group of people, private or government agencies who embark on contempt of Court against the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
The Ataoja of Osogbo land, Oba Jimoh Oyetunji advised that residents should avoid purchase of land at the Kelebe-Omu Area until all dispute are settled.
