The ruling came amid Lamin Bojang’s attempt to sell the land that has been used by the community for more than 60 years as prayer and social gathering grounds.
According to report, Mr Bojang claimed he inherited the land area from his ancestors.
However, the Land and Dispute Settlement Committee at the Office of the Governor gave the following ruling: “The community of Wellingara maintains the land space measuring 118m x 45m for community use only and not residential.”
Signed by Musa B. Susa, the ruling also indicated: “The community remains land space unless one shows proof of title that dates 50 years ago; no one person should take the title of this space.
“Even for that proof, it has to be connected to the Aku woman who was commonly found to own the land.”
The Governor's Office said anyone who attempts to restrict the Wellingara community from the use of the land “is threatening peace and harmony” but was quick to add that except the person follows due process.
According to the Governor’s Office, findings have shown that the said parcel of land “falls in the central part” of Wellingara village, and the community of Wellingara continued to use the space as requested and agreed with the owner some 40 years ago, that it was only recently in 2020 that claims of title were emerging from within the community.
The findings further discovered that the Bojang Kunda Kabilo owned land around this area but sold all including the space under redress to different people a long time ago.
“Logic dictates that this land space could not exist and left unclaimed all this long,” it added.
