By Ijeoma Umeh
Benin City – Elders of Evbuarhue Community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area were yesterday, Monday, March 27, quizzed by members of the Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee over a parcel of land they claimed belonged to the Oba of Benin.
Leading a verification exercise, Hon Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga (Retd), Chairman of the Committee, tasked Respondents to scrutinize signatures on documents tendered in evidence, including names and dates.
Earlier in a statement, the Petitioner, Omogiate Solomon Samuel stated that sometime in the year 2019, he bought a parcel of land measuring 200ft by 600ft situate at Evbuarhue Community from one Madam Dorcas Idahosa (also known as Madam Iyeye).
He further stated that he took possession of the land, did survey and went ahead to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy on the land in the same year, 2019. Having done all the needful, he said, he commenced development but was stopped by the Respondents, Messrs Monday Aimienoho, Sunday Iroguehi, David Ehiarinwan, Obvbokhan Ehibor and Ehibor Solomon, elders of the Community, who claimed that the land belonged to the Oba of Benin, His Royal Majesty Oba Ewuare II.
Meanwhile, some elders of the community while being quizzed by the Committee confirmed that the Vendor to the Petitioner, Madam Dorcas Idahosa was actually gifted a parcel of land in appreciation of her humanitarian services to the community but that she did not wait to be shown the land in question.
Interrogated further, Elder Solomon Ehibor, Secretary to the Community, was asked to confirm his signature on both the allocation document and a letter of approval which conveyed the portions of the said land to both the Oba and Madam Dorcas Idahosa, and he confirmed the signature as his own.
However, while the document stated that the land belonging to the Oba was 400ft by 600 ft, the elders, in their statements before the Committee, claimed that they were extending the Oba’s Land to 400ft by 1000, contrary to their written statements, leaving nothing for the Petitioner to claim.
The Petitioner, Mr Omogiate Solomon Samuel was however relocated to another land, which he has rejected, insisting on the land which he said he bought from Madam Dorcas Idahosa and which the Community stated now belongs to the Oba.
In her advice, Honourable Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga (Retd) told the Respondents to uphold truth at all times, being elders and custodians of the culture and tradition of the people.
“As at the time you wrote this letter conveying the land to those you have claimed you conveyed to, you had not started selling the land. Truth does not have colour, there’s only one truth.
When you sold, you could have simply apologized, stating that the land was sold in error.
You gifted the vendor a land, and now you wish to take it back, saying you’re no more giving it out, and considering that development had come to the area and land had appreciated, you now wish to deal with the gift as you please.
If a gift is given, it has been given. Your document does not support your story.”
At the end of hearing, the Committee directed that additional statements should be extracted from Mr Monday Aimienoho and Elder Ehibor Solomon who both claimed the Oba’s Land had been extended from 200ft by 600ft to 200ft by 1000ft, and that the Respondents should appear in the next sitting with documents supporting the extension of the land.
“We will be deploying the Edo State Private Properties Protection Law 2021 in dealing with this matter.” The Honourable Justice stated.
The Law prohibits forcible entry and illegal occupation of landed properties, violent and fraudulent conduct in relation to landed properties, and proscribes the collection of land based community development fees, levies, etc, by community development associations (now proscribed) and any other groups in Edo State, and for connected purposes.
The case was adjourned till May 25, 2023.
Sitting continues in Benin City.
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