Ex-Ondo VC’s family tackles land scandal claim

By Boye Oyeyemi –

The family of former Vice Chancellor of Wesley University, Ondo, Prof. Olu Aderounmu, has rejected allegations that he sold ancestral land in Oba Ile, Akure North Local Government Area.

Some factional members had accused the professor of disposing of parcels of land valued at over N200 million. They also claimed he was not a biological member of the family.

“We warn all buyers. Those transactions are illegal, null, and void. Any development on illegally acquired land will be at the buyer’s own risk,” the faction said in a statement.

But in a counter-statement, Mr Gabriel Ogundari, who spoke for the Sao Family, described the allegation as false and misleading. He said the land belongs to the professor’s maternal lineage.

“The truth is that the Sao Family of Oba Ile has been hijacked by a few people who illegally take over lands through a so-called land committee. This is gangsterism by a minority over the majority, in defiance of court judgements,” the statement read.

The family said High Court and Court of Appeal rulings (Suit AK/144/2016 & CA/AK/66/2020) recognised Prof. Aderounmu’s maternal Ogundari stock and restrained chiefs from selling the land.

It urged authorities to uphold the law and cautioned the public against false claims, insisting that those behind the allegations must be held accountable.