Five parties of a land dispute were ordered to remove themselves, relatives, families, and personal properties from the disputed land.

The order was issued by the Supreme Court last week in favour of a party identified by the court as one of the two surviving trustees for the Wallis and Futuna Community Charitable Association, the registered proprietors of Lease.

The land is a 75 year residential lease in Forari, East Efate.

During the proceedings, the court found that several trustees had passed away, leaving only two surviving trustee, one of whom initiated the legal action.

“I therefore find that the First named defendants are squatters and trespassers on Lease 013 belonging to the Wallis and Futuna Community or Association whose trustees are the Claimant and Visesio Muliakaaka who are the only two surviving trustees today,” Justice Oliver Saksak stated in his written judgment.

The affected families have been given until April 25, 2025, to leave the property in compliance with the court’s decision.

Justice Saksak stated that in the event the Defendants and their family members and relatives have not complied with the Order by the specified date, an Enforcement Warrant will be issued authorizing the Sheriff and the Police to evict the defendants without any further notice.