In a landmark ruling today, the High Court of Ondo State has upheld the rights of local farmers operating within the Ondo Forest Reserve, declaring the previous eviction order null and void. The decision marks a significant victory for smallholder farmers, who have long depended on the reserve's land for their livelihoods.
The legal dispute began when a controversial eviction order was issued by the Ondo State government, citing environmental concerns and the need to protect the forest reserve from further deforestation. However, local farmers, who have been cultivating the land for generations, contested the order, arguing that their agricultural activities were sustainable and vital to their communities.
In a strongly worded judgment, the High Court ruled that the eviction order was issued without proper consultation and failed to account for the farmers’ rights to their ancestral land. The court further emphasized that the government must balance environmental conservation efforts with the protection of farmers' rights and their sustainable agricultural practices.
Justice Adeola Olanrewaju, who presided over the case, stated, “The rights of these farmers to their land are enshrined in law. The court recognizes their long-standing relationship with the forest reserve, and any attempt to evict them without a justifiable cause is unlawful.”
The ruling has been hailed as a triumph for rural communities in Ondo State and across Nigeria, as it reinforces the protection of farmers’ rights in the face of land use disputes. Legal experts have noted that the decision could set a vital precedent for similar cases in other parts of the country, where rural farmers often find themselves at odds with government policies aimed at land preservation.