….N220 million court suit slated for October
By Wole Adedeji, Ilorin
The Kwara State Polytechnic is planning to use the end of farming season this year for a 20 Acres of land to grow soya beans as a way to help boost food production and arrest food scarcity in the State.
Land in dispute
The institution’s Rector; Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed who disclosed this to journalists at a briefing and harvesting of an earlier 20 Acres farm of maize and cassava, said the occassion marked the school’s forray into commercial farming.
He said the intention was to support Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s programme in enhancing food production and assisting the Polytechnic community as well as members of the public.
However, Gatta, the host community on whose land the farm situates had kicked against the action of the Polytechnic and its Rector pointing out that a writ of summons and statement of claims KWS/238/2024 filed on 28th May, 2024 on matters relating to the farmland is still pending before an Ilorin High Court.
They argued that the writ was served on the Rector and the Polytechnic to which they had filed a reply. The case, they said, was fixed for October this year wondering why the polytechnic particularly the Rector still went ahead to function on a land in dispute. They described the action as an arrant disrespect to the court and judicial prosesses.
The writ of summons, made available to this reporter was filed by eleven members of Gatta village headed by Abdul Kareem Akanji, the 135 years old Magaji of the community against the Polytechnic, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), The Rector as well as four others.
They had alleged among others that NSCDC operatives had been flagrantly used by the Polytechnic to harrass, assault and intimidate the villagers since the land dispute began in March this year.
The eleven claimants in the suit were claiming N220 million individually from each of the seven defendants i.e the Rector, the Polytechnic, the NSCDC and others for alleged trespass and other claims they were making.
Meanwhile, Dr. Abdul Jimoh Mohammed appeared unperturbed on the matter when he flagged off harvesting farm produce on the land. He described the farm as a N13 million maize and cassava project boasting that he had turned what he said was “the Institution’s land encroachment challenge to a blessing”.
His words; “we began by engaging in commercial farming, we deploy this initiative to reduce the vacant land, discourage encroachment, and make food available and affordable to the members of the Polytechnic Communities and Kwarans.
He added; “come next rainy season, the management is planning to cultivate another 20 hectares and we are also considering giving an opportunity to the members of the public who may be interested in leasing a space for farming”.
Meanwhile, tensions still build up around the Gatta village and the Polytechnic.
“It is to the extent that the Rector can only move around with heavily armed men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
This reporter gathered that gardener who is a low level worker and a citizen of Gatta was allegedly dismissed by the polytechnic after being accused of conniving with his village to take the institution to court.
Sources said he was requested by Dr. Abdul Mohammed; the Rector to prevail on his people to withdraw the case in court but because he could not make that happen, he was given the boot.