Lucky Obukohwo, Reporting
The Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee headed by Hon. Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga (Retd) has heard 57 cases within two days.
The sitting dwelt on arrest, land grabbing and settlements.
Reports from Investigative Police Teams followed three fresh commencements and several reports of settlement and cases still under investigation.
A case involving Andy Industries Nig Ltd(Represented by Sir Harry Igbadume Vs Benjamin Ogharandaku was dismissed by the Committee even as counsel to Petitioner insisted the case should subsist, while counsel to respondent thanked the committee for “the indulgence and cooperation, long suffering, patient, straight forward and direct hearing given to the case” counsel stated.
In another case, the Committee once again directed the Police Investigative Team A to ensure it visited the land in contention in the case of Prof(Mrs) Chinelo Duze Vs Iyeware Monday(Obe Community Youth Chairman & Unknown Person.
The Committee stated it was necessary to ascertain and compare the distance between the new allocation and the original land because of the purpose for which the Petitioner intended to use the land, which is, to extend an existing school structure.
The Petitioner however expressed her fears on the availability or otherwise of genuine land for the allocation, stating that the community kept taking her to land already encumbered by issues of claims of ownership.
The Committee told the Petitioner to put her fears on hold till the new allocation is first confirmed. The case was adjourned to June 11.
In an unfortunate development, A.I. Asemota, Counsel to Late Sir Ephraim Ikpomwosa Ayanru confirmed report on the death of the Petitioner and also stated that the Respondents refused to sign at the Multidoor court the resolution both parties had agreed on in the case between the deceased and Odionwere and Youths of Obazagbon Community.
The Committee directed that all the parties should be invited to hear their reasons for the turn around.
However, in Paul Ekhaguere Vs Unknown Person, another case due to have its resolution signed at the Multidoor court, the parties were willing as it was reported to the Committee that the sum of #1m had been paid by the encroacher to put the case to rest.
Two siblings, Monday Ehike and Douglas Ehike have opened their defense in a case of allegations of encroachment leveled against them by the Petitioner, Mkpuma Ezekiel Ekene.
They informed the Committee that the land in dispute is part of their late mother’s inheritance and appealed for help to save the land.
The Committee directed the brothers to produce documents and witnesses to validate their claims.
As part of settlement, Petitioner in the case of Ikechukwu Nwankaire Vs Pastor Francis Itebalumhe has informed the Committee that his lawyer had written to withdraw the case since the Respondent had paid for the land. He commended the Committee for a job well done and appealed to the Edo State Government to sustain the Committee.