Some elders in Ilorin have filed a suit in Ilorin High Court praying it to restrain the Kwara State Government from transferring ownership of  a piece of land from public to private hands.

According a writ, issued on behalf of the plaintiffs by attorneys from Jawondo and co, Salman Jawondo and Saka Rasak on Sunday, the suit is on the alleged sale of the communal-owned Old Yidi Praying Ground, otherwise known as the Ilorin Amusement Park.

The writ said, "The litigants are Dr Ajibola Saliu Ajia, Dr. Saad Omoiya and Alhaji Saleh Duro Garba, all of them elder statesmen with deep family roots in Ilorin."

They claimed that the land was dedicated to communal use as Ilorin Muslim Community Praying Ground from 1904 till 1977 during the regime of Brigadier George Innih, who was the military governor of Kwara State.

The elders said due to increased population, the Ilorin Eld (Yidi) praying ground was moved to the present place at the Adinimonle (now Irewolede) area of Ilorin.

They said the old Eid (Yidi) was then converted to a publicly-owned Amusement Park, a project that was meant to serve the interests of the members of the public.

The writ sated, "The land was never at any time acquired by any government but was part of the Ilorin community's decisions and contributions to the Islamic religious rites, practices and festivals of the community and later for the beautification of the Ilorin town and to serve as tourism, recreational, relaxation and event centre.

"The claimants aver that since the dedication of the land as Yidi praying ground and its subsequent conversion to Amusement Park, the land had/has remained a property meant for the benefit of members of the public and had served that purpose with the management and control of the park residing in the appropriate level of government."

Others joined in the suit as defendants are Artee Industry Limited and wife of a former governor of the state, Mrs Toyin Saraki.