Family drags Mobil Nigeria to court over fraudulent acquisition of property

The Olateru family of Ikirun in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State has dragged Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc before a state high court sitting in Ikirun over alleged acquisition of a parcel of land belonging to the family without authorization by any representative of the family, this SHOWBIZPLUS can authoritatively reveal.

Although the family agreed that it leased the land to Mobil oil for a period of 25 years from 1964 to 1987, it stressed that the agreement on the lease of the property lapsed 26 years ago, but Mobil continued using the property illegally.

According to SHOWBIZPLUS findings, a member of the family, Mr. Gabriel Olateru, who instituted the suit against Mobil Oil, said that the oil company had contravened the agreement between it and the family and therefore, demanded for a compensation of N20 million, as general damages for the act of trespass allegedly committed by the company.

Counsel to the family, Mr.  Hashm Abioye, at the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Oyejide Falola, recently, claimed that Mobil Oil has continued to occupy the property after the expiration of the period of the agreement without the consent of the family.

He said: “Despite all attempts put up by the plaintiff to recover the said land upon expiration of the 25 years terms, the Mobil Oil Nigeria Plc, captivated by financial gains and wide patronage it enjoys on the plaintiff’s property over the years, failed to formally release the property to the plaintiff.”

According to him, the oil company, despite the expiration of the agreement between it and the family, did not remove its belongings from the plaintiff’s use of the property.

“The conduct of Mobil Oil has denied members of the Olateru family access to their property and therefore, the family members have suffered serious damage. The company has trespassed and has continued to trespass on the family’s property,” he said.

Counsel to Mobil Oil Plc, Mr Eric Ogiegor, who admitted that the term of agreement between the company and the family had expired, said efforts were on by the two parties to settle the matter out of court.

Justice Falola however adjourned the case till February 17, 2014