An Ilorin High Court has struck out a case instituted by former Senate President Bukola Saraki which challenged Kwara State Government’s takeover of a piece of land purportedly belonging to the Saraki family.
The land, which has come to be known as Ile Arugbo, the government told the court, was controversially transferred to a firm – Asa Investment Ltd – owned by Saraki’s late father Olusola Saraki without any payment made to the government or document issued for that purpose.
The government reclaimed the land from the Saraki family in December 2019 and began constructing a new secretariat until the suit by Saraki halted it.
However, on Tuesday, Justice Abiodun Adewara struck out Saraki’s case for “lack of diligent prosecution.”
The judge struck out the case after the appellants, Saraki and Asa Investment Ltd, again failed to call any witnesses to support their claim that the land belonged to the firm.
Counsel to the Kwara State Government Salman Jawondo told the court that the government is willing to press counter-claims of ownership of the land against Asa Investment Ltd.
The court adjourned to March 17, 2021.
