An Owo High Court has sentenced 12 persons to 1 month imprisonment each for contempt of court.

The Presiding Judge, Justice Ademola Enikuomehin, after considering the conducts of the convicts, especially after the judgment gave an option of fine of five thousand naira each to 11 of the 12 defendants.

Justice Enikuomehin, however, refused to give an option of fine to one Mr Orimadegun Oshorunnaiye, the first respondent who he said had continued to exhibit protest even after being called upon to give an allocutus.

Consequently, Oshorunnaiye was ordered to serve the one month imprisonment.

Those given options of fine include; Abu Stephen Olatubosun, Pastor Olatubosun Francis, Mrs Ayelari Roseline, Azeez Aliu, Chief Lasisi Jubril and Pastor Ikujenlola Gbenga.

Others were Tope Omotosho, Elder Dahomi Oluwole, Pastor Adebayo Matthew, Evang. Peter Jude and Onifari Suleimon.

The pending issue involved the judgment which granted statutory right of occupancy over a wide expanse of land to the claimants, Chief Tunde Ogunleye Ojomobori and Chief Jimoh Ibrahim Sawa which the defendants were dissatisfied with and filed a notice of appeal and stay of proceeding at the court of appeal and the High Court.

The stay of execution at the High Court was dismissed, while the appeal for stay of execution was struck out by the Court of Appeal, Akure.