By Ijeoma Umeh
Benin City – Several cases of land grabbing, including matters of trespass and unauthorized sale of land were among cases heard and resolved on Thursday, October 19 by the Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee sitting in Government House Benin City.
On the whole, 26 cases were listed and heard that Thursday by the Hon. Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga headed Committee.
Both Investigative Police Teams and parties themselves were on ground to report the settlements.
A Petitioner, Mr Paul Ekhaguere commended the Committee for helping him recover the sum of #3m for land measuring 150ft by 100ft and #2.6m for another plot measuring 100 by 100. He sued the Committee to continue to sustain the pace of helping restore sanity across Edo communities.
Another visibly elated Petitioner, Mrs Adesuwa Joan Adikankwu appeared before the Committee to report that the sum of #2m had been paid to her by the Respondent, with a balance of 50,000 to be offset at the end of October, 2023. She also commended the Committee for “taking the bull by the horns” and ensuring justice was served in the matter.
Still on settlements, Solomon Osahon Erhabor, Petitioner, reported that the first and second Respondents, John Anuwa and Goodluck Arasòmwan have both paid him the sum of #600,000 and #100,000 respectively for parts of his land encroached on, with a balance of #100,000 to be paid before the next adjournment date of November 30.
Speaking to the Press, the parties commended the Committee for the peaceful resolution of the land dispute and for the judicious handling of the settlement process.
Meanwhile, a Petitioner, Chief Osaro Edogun has pleaded for the Committee’s intervention in the land dispute between him and some encroachers on one part and members of the Okhuahie community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area on the other hand.
Chief Edogun stated that despite the placement of the Caveat banners of the Committee by the Investigative police team, the Respondents were still observed operating in the land.
Members of the Okhuahie Community on their part informed the Committee that they had advised the Petitioner to ensure that the vast Plots of land in dispute are equitably shared among the children in the polygamous setting which characterized the life of Late Chief Musa Edogun, owner of the estate in dispute.
The Investigative Police Team has been directed to ensure they arrested all the encroachers still working on the disputed land.
The case was adjourned till December 12.
