Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The indigenous people of Oke Oroma Community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have approached the High Court, seeking an order stopping the Edo State Land Restitution Committee from arresting members of the community.
The applicants alleged that members of the committee, who are respondents in the suit, had allegedly attempted to hijack the community’s ancestral land and levelled what he described as malicious and mischievous allegations against the people.
They further alleged that the actions of the respondents were intended to intimidate and coerce members of the community into accepting a purported settlement in Suit No. B/61/2022, a matter which is still pending before the High Court of Edo State.
The applicants are therefore asking the court to intervene and prevent the respondents from taking any steps that could result in the arrest or harassment of members of the community pending the determination of the substantive suit.
In a suit no B/192/2026 filed in the high court of Edo State on the 19th day of August 2026, on behalf of the indegene and people of the community by K.O Obamogie, SAN, disclosed that their planned move, constitutes a violation of the applicant fundamental right to dignity of human person and right to fair hearing guaranteed by section 34 and 36 subsection 1 of 1999 Nigeria’s constitution as amended.
In the declaration before the High Court, the applicants have accused the respondent of allocating their ancestral communal land to themselves, their associates and some persons parading themselves as developers, citing a subsisting order of interim and interlocutory injuction between Gaius Idusuyi Emokpae and others and the Governor of Edo State and others remaining in force.
The applicants are, Gaius Idusuyi Emokpae, Abel Emokpae, Osazee Patrick, Sylvester Obayuwana, Wilfred Emokpae, Festus Owie, Eric Ugiagbe Osaretin Emokpae, Terry Aigbogun, and Uwa Thomas Eghaghe.
The respondents are, Edo State Geographic Infirmation Service, Dr. Innocent Bello, MD EDOGIs, and the Secretary, Land Restitution Committee, Abdul Wasiu Oyakhire.
They are asking the court to declare that the committee has no power to arrest, detain or prosecute anyone or member of the community without following due process of the law.
According to court documents, the applicant is challenging the planned arrest by the Restitution Committee, which was set up by the Edo State Government to profile, recover and give back the disputed land assets and property illegally acquired by the previous administration.
The applicants argued that while they are not against the recovery, the Governor is expected to direct the committee to operate within the bounds of the law and respect the fundamental human rights of citizens.
They contended that any arrest or detention without a court order amounts to harassment , unconstitutional, intimidation.
The Edo State Restitution Committee was inaugurated to investigate and recover, profile and return Lands to the owners and property developers allegedly taken away at the end of the previous administration.
Since its inauguration, the committee has invited, questioned, and in some cases arrested individuals linked to the alleged illegal possession of state assets.
However, this latest legal action suggests growing pushback from some of those affected.
