Agbonbiti Land Dispute: Ooni Aderemi Granted Land to Adewuyi Family, Chief Tells Court

A traditional chief in Ile-Ife, Osun State, High Chief Kayode Awofiranye, has told an Osun State High Court that the late Ooni of Ife, Oba Adesoji Aderemi, granted the disputed Agbonbiti land to the family of his younger brother, the late Chief Samuel Adetunji Adewuyi.

Awofiranye, who testified as a defence witness in a suit between the Adewuyi family and the Ife Traditional Council, made the disclosure during cross-examination by counsel to the claimants, O. N. Babatunde, before Justice M. O. Agboola on Wednesday.

When asked whether Oba Aderemi granted the land to the Adewuyi family, the witness answered in the affirmative.

“Yes, he gave them and also granted land to others,” he said.

The witness also confirmed that the disputed property, known as Agbonbiti village, is located in Ife South Local Government Area of Osun State.

He further told the court that there had been no disagreement between him and the Adewuyi family, or between the family and others, over the land. He also maintained that the grant had not been revoked.

“Yes, we have not quarrelled with the Adewuyis on the land,” Awofiranye stated.

During the proceedings, the traditional chief also acknowledged the popular Ife traditional expression that “Ooni does not die, he only changes name.”

The suit, marked HFT/5/2024, was instituted by five members of the Adewuyi family — Princes Adegbenga, Adediji, Adefemi, Adeposi and Adegboye Adewuyi — on behalf of the family of the late Chief Samuel Adetunji Adewuyi.

The claimants are asking the court to declare that Agbonbiti village belongs exclusively to their family. They contend that the land was granted to their ancestor by Oba Aderemi and subsequently ceased to be part of the communal land of Ile-Ife.

In support of their claim, the family is relying on a survey map dated April 15, 1966, and a composite survey plan dated February 29, 2024.

However, the Ife Traditional Council and other defendants are challenging the claim, maintaining that the disputed property remains communal land belonging to Ile-Ife.

The defendants argued that communal land in Ile-Ife is held in trust for the community and that the Ooni does not have absolute authority to allocate such land without the involvement of the Ife Traditional Council.

They also contended that the alleged grant of Agbonbiti to the late monarch’s younger brother was a personal transaction, insisting that any allocation of communal land must involve the traditional council.

At the resumed hearing, counsel to the defendants and counter-claimants, Adebusola Adedoyin, informed the court that the witness had referred to certain documents in his statement on oath, deposed to on February 3, 2025, and sought to tender them as evidence.

Counsel to the claimants did not oppose the application.

In their counter-claim, the defendants are seeking a declaration that Agbonbiti village is communal land belonging to Ile-Ife and held in trust for the community by the Ooni and the Ife Traditional Council.

The court is expected to determine the competing claims to ownership of the disputed property as the case continues.