By Precious Owolabi, Ado-Ekiti
The Ekiti State Government has cautioned communities involved in boundary disputes against making unfounded allegations of bribery and bias against officials handling land issues.
Deputy Governor, Chief (Mrs) Monisade Afuye, issued the warning in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday while mediating a boundary dispute between Isinbode and Eda Ile Ekiti in Ekiti East Local Government Area.
In a statement by her Special Assistant on Media, Victor Ogunje, Afuye urged communities to refrain from tarnishing the image of the Ekiti State Boundary Commission with baseless claims.
“Nobody takes bribes here. If your case is delayed, it does not mean someone has been bribed or is biased,” she said.
“Accusing officials unfairly damages their reputation, and we won’t tolerate it.”
She assured that the Ekiti State Boundary Resolution Committee would visit the disputed land to determine the rightful boundary.
Afuye also urged the two monarchs to embrace peace and seek a fair resolution in the spirit of unity.
Ekiti State Surveyor General, Adebayo Faleto, estimated the disputed land at 149 hectares and called for cooperation, noting that a technical team had visited the area three times but could not verify either side’s claims without further study.
The Onisin of Isinbode Ekiti, Oba Adesoji Akinyemi, argued that the land holds historical significance for his people and should not be shared.
Meanwhile, the Eleda of Eda Ile, Oba Omotayo Adeniran, countered that his town had previously won a court ruling in a similar dispute and accused Isinbode residents of illegal logging despite earlier government restrictions.
Both communities await further government intervention to settle the matter.