A new twist has emerged in the long-running dispute between several Ondo communities and the Okitipupa Oil Palm Company Plc (OOPC), as prominent human rights lawyer, Tope Temokun, petitions the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice of Ondo State, Olukayode Ajulo, for the release of three detained land rights protesters.
In a letter dated 19 May 2025 and acknowledged by the Ministry of Justice on Monday, Temokun demanded the immediate release of Bose Loyinmi-Ogunlowo, Rachael Akinirun, and Orimisan Adelokiki. The trio had been arrested following their protest against the state government’s alleged renewal of a lease agreement with OOPC, a state-owned enterprise, to continue occupying large expanses of ancestral land belonging to the Ikale people.
Dispute Rooted in History and Legal Precedents
The conflict traces back to a colonial-era land lease dating to 1954, when community leaders reportedly ceded around 50,000 hectares of land to the government for oil palm cultivation. Decades later, tensions have resurfaced over claims that OOPC has not only failed to honour the terms of that original agreement but has also allegedly neglected its corporate social responsibilities, despite benefitting significantly from the land.
The affected communities particularly in Okitipupa, Irele, and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas have expressed mounting frustration over what they described as “decades of economic and developmental deprivation.”
At a press conference earlier this year in Akure, members of the Ikale Supreme Civil Right Council (ISCRC) decried the continued occupation of the land by the company without the community’s consent. Speaking for the group before his arrest, Mr Adelokiki said the push for land reclamation was inspired by legal counsel grounded in provisions of the Land Use Act, which he said permits landowners to recover their land in cases of lease violations.
“Our forefathers signed an agreement in 1954, releasing about 50,000 hectares of land for oil palm cultivation,” he stated. “But the company has not fulfilled its responsibilities, and operations have ceased for 35 years, leaving our communities deprived of development and basic amenities.”
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The protesters further alleged that OOPC generated N10.7 billion between 2021 and 2024, without transparent records of how these funds were utilised. The group said it had petitioned the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to investigate the alleged financial mismanagement and launched a transition committee to begin managing the land independently.
Company Denies Allegations
Reacting to the claims, OOPC’s Managing Director, Taiwo Adewole, dismissed the allegations as “baseless propaganda” and insisted that the company maintained good relations with host communities.
“The company is not in dispute with any of its landowners. Any claim of indebtedness should be brought forward for prompt resolution,” Adewole said.
He maintained that the firm had continued to engage in corporate social responsibility programmes and urged local stakeholders to focus on sustaining mutual cooperation.
Lawyer Condemns Arrest as Assault on Constitutional Rights
Temokun, in his petition to the state’s Attorney-General, condemned the arrest of the protest leaders, describing it as a breach of their constitutional rights.
“The protest was peaceful,” Temokun wrote. “Arresting these individuals for expressing concerns about their ancestral land violates their rights under Sections 39 and 40 of the 1999 Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression and assembly.”
He warned that the state government’s actions could be interpreted as aligning with corporate interests at the expense of indigenous communities.
“This matter goes beyond law and order; it speaks to the moral duty of the government to protect its citizens from exploitation and to respect judicial precedents,” Temokun added, referencing a 1988 Supreme Court judgment which, according to the communities, affirmed that OOPC had no continuing right to the land without a valid agreement.
He urged Mr Ajulo, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), to use his office to uphold constitutional rights and to demonstrate that Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa’s administration is committed to justice and the rule of law.
