AKINTAN JCA (Delivering the Lead Judgment): This is an appeal from the judgment delivered by Odunlami, J. on 17th May, 1982, sitting at Abeokuta High Court, in Suit No. AB/26/8l. The appellants were the plaintiffs while the respondents were the defendants. The plaintiffs instituted the action in a representative capacity on behalf of themselves and Okufon family. Their claim was for a declaration that the plaintiffs’family are entitled to statutory certificate of occupancy to a parcel of land situate, lying and being at Okufon’s compound, Ilugun Asalu, Abeokuta; and injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents and privies from entering the said land or disturbing the plaintiffs in their exercise of ownership over the land. Pleadings were filed and exchanged and the parties led evidence at the trial in support of their respective pleadings.
The plaintiffs’ case was premised on traditional history and acts of possession and usage of the land spanning over a long period…