Petitioners, Mr Kazeem Oyelami, and Mrs Anu Akinfe Omogbeminiyi have expressed their confidence in the ad hoc committee set up by the Ondo State House of Assembly to settle various land disputes across the state.

It is reported that the House of Assembly, on Tuesday last week, set up an ad hoc Committee on Public Petitions and Fraudulent Activities Related to Land Disputes.

Oyelami and Omogbeminiyi, while speaking to newsmen on Tuesday after they and their co-complainants appeared before the committee, commended the House of Assembly for its intervention, adding that it would go a long way in combating land-related crises.

They urged the committee to thoroughly examine all documents and complaints presented, stating that many lives and properties had been destroyed due to land and property disputes.

“We want to expose some of the lies that have been fabricated and spread by Stella and Siji about the ongoing dispute over the land.

“He said that he was the one who planted the cocoa or whatever. But he never had anything like that on that land.

“We have confidence that the committee will deliver a favourable outcome.

“So, we are appealing to them to conduct a thorough investigation,” he said.

“We, the farmers, have had our fathers planting cocoa and kola nuts for 40, 35, or even 50 years on that land. So, we don’t understand why he is now claiming ownership.

“Regarding the history, I, for example, bought my farm from Joseph, Mr Joseph Akiwumeju—late Mr Akiwumeju. And according to history, the person who sold the farm to my father was the same person who brought this man’s father, Siji Festus, to Agiodo.

“They only brought him there; his father did not own land. Yet, he is the one carrying guns, cutlasses, and other weapons.

“They caught me on the farm—on my own farm—and threatened to kill me.

“The Kabiyesi has delivered several judgments stating that these people should not return to that area until the land dispute is resolved. He ruled that we should continue planting our cocoa and going about our farming. About 50 communities have been affected in that area.

“After a series of investigations, I believe that the committee will uncover the truth about what is happening on that land. So, we are appealing to them to dig deep. We are confident that we will get justice from this matter, through the honourable members.

“Our fathers planted all those cash crops, and we bought the farm. I have documents to prove it. For about 40 years, no one has disturbed me on that land.

“That is, until this year and last year. Before that, nobody ever questioned my ownership. Even those who sold the land to my father never returned to dispute it.

“I wonder why this person, Mr Siji, has suddenly appeared, claiming that he owns the land,” he stated.

The petitioners said that there were pictorial pieces of evidence and valid documents to substantiate their claims.