In line with the agreement reached on January 24, 2020 by the counsel to Kwara State government and Asa Investment Ltd on the need to settle the issue of the demolished Ile Arugbo out of court, representatives of the two parties on Friday held a reconciliation meeting.
The meeting, held behind closed doors at the Governor’s office, Ilorin, lasted for one hour, ten minutes. It started at about 3.50pm and ended at 5 .00pm.
Counsel to Asa Investment Ltd, Abdulazeez Ibrahim had while responding to journalists’ inquiry say: “We are still at negotiating stage. We are yet to conclude. The meeting has ended for now. We are meeting again on Tuesday by 4.00pm. That is all we can say for now.”
Also speaking, Salman Jawondo, the state attorney-general and commissioner for Justice, also explained: “We have started discussion, we had very frank talk. We are still discussing. We are meeting again on Tuesday at 4.00pm.”
The state High Court, sitting in Ilorin, had on January 15, 2020 advised parties in the suit to explore an out-of-court settlement over the disputed land in the interest of peace.
Meanwhile, at the resumed hearing of the case on January 24, 2020, Counsel to Asa Investments Limited, Abdulazeez Ibrahim informed the court that his clients had received a letter from the Kwara State Ministry of Justice inviting them to a meeting slated for January 27th, 2020.
Counsel to the state government, who is also the Director Civil Litigation, Ministry of Justice, A.M. Bello also confirmed the receipt of a letter from the claimant’s counsel seeking for amicable resolution of the case out of court.
“In tandem with the tenet of the said letter, we have invited the claimant for a meeting on Monday next week for out-of-court settlement of the case,” Bello added.
In his ruling then, Justice Abiodun Adebara urged the parties to resolve the case amicably before the next adjourned date.
“This court is particularly impressed by the parties for the steps taken to settle out of court; they are therefore enjoined to
engage in meaningful discussions that will lead to the resolution of the case out of court. I wish the parties well in their deliberation.
“With the concurrence of the learned counsel, this case is adjourned to March 2nd for the report of out-of-court settlement,” he said.
SIKIRAT SHEHU, Ilorin
