……Respondent cries out before the Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee
By Ijeoma Umeh
Benin City – It was an emotional moment yesterday at the hearing of the Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee sitting in Government House, Benin City, when the Respondent, a woman in her 60s, broke down in tears as the Petitioner was given a few minutes to decide whether to charge the case to court or agree to the terms of settlement at the level of the Committee.
The Respondent, Mrs Esther Umoru, a fish farmer, kept moaning and interrupting proceedings as the Petitioner sat down to deliberate on the way forward with members of his team, since the Respondent had defaulted in meeting up with the terms of settlement earlier agreed on.
“I want the case to be settled here. I have confidence in the Committee to resolve the matter here. Please, do not let them charge me to court! ,” she kept pleading.
Earlier, the Committee had given the Petitioner reasons why he should be more lenient with the Respondent, stating that she was also a victim of land grabbing and appealed to him to accept the instalments she was willing to pay for the land she was buying back after she had earlier bought from a vendor at large.
The Petitioner, Iyen Mark Omoregbe, with a Power of Attorney to represent Mr and Mrs Glory Idahosa Aruevbose, owners of the property, bought the land measuring 100ft by 100ft in Ayen Community in 2017. He surveyed the land and built two stores on a part of the land.
On a routine visit to the land, he saw that somebody had erected a building to lintel level on the land. On enquiry, it was revealed that it was the Respondent, Mrs Esther Umoru that was working on the land. She was later arrested and in her statement, said she bought the land from one Uyi. However, when she produced her deed of transfer it bore the name Jolly Aibangbe as vendor. She claimed she bought the land for her son, Victor Umoru. Each time the matter came up for hearing before the Committee, she was directed to come with her vendor, but she was unable to.
In 2021, she however resolved to reacquire the land from the Petitioner.
During the sitting, the Petitioner told the Committee that the Respondent had reneged on the payment plan.
“Out of #2.5m, she has only been able to pay me #500,000. I am even more offended by the fact that she’s going on with her building project regardless of her failure to meet up with the agreed payment. ”
The Respondent, Mrs Umoru, however denied continuing with her building project and continued to appeal for the Committee’s help, stating that she could not meet up with the huge sum because she could not afford it in the current economic realities, but would rather be consistent in paying if the sum was reduced to #200,000 every month for ten months against the Petitioner’s demand for only two or three instalments.
Hon.Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga (Retd), Chairman of Committee and other committee members took turns to address the Petitioner on the matters arising.
“Do reconsider the condition you’re giving to her.” They advised him.
The Petitioner agreed to their counsel.
The Hon Justice, now addressing the Respondent stated: “He has let go of his stand, so there’s a middle course. Do not let anyone drag you for payment. Be honourable, be charitable in paying back.”
The Committee further informed the parties that a draft resolution will be taken to the Multidoor Court and signed by both parties and thanked the Petitioner for listening to the voice of reason.
The case was adjourned till April 27, a return date for the Multidoor Court, the Committee stated.
Sitting continues in Benin City.
