…..Clarifies Terms of Reference , Recommendations
By Ijeoma Umeh
Benin City – Between Thursday, August 10 and Monday, August 14 alone, the Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee, headed by Hon. Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga(Retd) had heard 52 cases bordering on land grabbing and related matters during its sittings in Government House, Benin City.
The Committee continues daily, to task community leaders on building bridges of peace and good neighbourliness without which, it said, growth and development were impossible.
Hon. Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga (Retd), Chairman of Committee and her team effectively deployed three to five critical minutes during each sitting to advocate for harmonious living and tolerance, including giving worthwhile advice and making recommendations on equitable use and distribution of land as a natural resource.
The Honourable Justice would say, “No one appeared here on earth with any land trapped in their clutched fists, and definitely when going back, no one goes back with even a grain of earth, so, stop and think!”
She would counsel both Petitioners and Respondents on holding tenaciously to claims of ownership even when preponderance of evidence weighed heavily against their claims.
“Listen, many of you are closer, so to speak, to where you are going, considering the distance you have come. You cannot keep up this stubborn, ego-bloated mien and think you can exact justice by it. It is even more irksome when elders stand before this Committee to spew falsehood. It is important to adjust your sails. In a matter that involves you and other parties, you will need to tolerate the position of others so you will both have a positive meeting point to push your claims on. This is not about the winner taking it all. It should be about: this is where we all live. Should we continue at daggers drawn? So, speak to your petition and make statements of fact.”
“You must learn to imbibe the culture of give and take so that you can make a headway.”
Those are some of the words on marbles.
The Committee, on Thursday, August 10 also clarified some of its recommendations and terms in the case of Peter Efosa Eguasa Vs Patrick Idogel, Matthew Okhide and others. In that particular case the Respondent had gone ahead to build blocks of lockup stalls when the case was still on.
Taken to task on the development, he stated that the Committee had directed him to “go and show presence.”
Meanwhile, a Caveat Banner was placed on the land. The Committee informed the Respondent that, “to go and show presence does not mean go and continue development. It means to go to the land, clear it, tip sand if you can afford it, or mold block or remove a tree stump where they exist, not to dig up the place and start developing. No, that’s not the meaning.”
In that particular case, the Petitioner was still not forthcoming in a matter initially dismissed by the Solomon Arase Committee for not having supportive documents to back their claims.
The Committee has however directed the Respondent to stop work till all issues are fully exhausted and settled.
Between last Thursday and Monday in the new week, 12 commencements were heard, five cases were struck out either due to the continuous non-response of parties, continous absence from hearings or due to matter being in court. “No KIVying of Cases.” The Hon. Justice(Retd) stated.
Settlements also characterized some cases, with payments running into millions of money recorded.
The Investigative Police Teams also reported that efforts were being made to arrest some Respondents at large.
The Committee also impressed it upon one of the parties in the case of Nicholas Enaibofoh Vs Osazee(AKA Oz) and others to make an undertaking that he would no longer go to site to disturb ongoing construction there. The Committee directed the parties to go to the community, meet physically and resolve their differences in a case of encroachment.
Meanwhile, yesterday, August 14, top ranking elders of Ekhonoguakhan Community in Uhunmwode Local Government Area appealed to the Committee to help them resolve the issue with their kinsman and third in command, Sir Albert Elaiho, who incidentally was a CDA Chairman of the Committee in his hey days.
The 76 year old, an Estate Surveyor, had brought a petition against the elders, claiming they encroached on and illegally sold portions of both his inheritance and acquired land in the area and prayed the Committee to help him recover his land, describing his acquisitions as his personal retirement benefit.
The Respondents, including Chief Thomas Ekhator, the Ihama of Ehor and second in command to the Odionwere who was reported as indisposed stated that road layouts had resulted in the reduction of sizes of land in the community and said none of the Petitioner’s land had been sold. The other elders collaborated the story, stating that Sir Elaiho’s land was not the only place affected in the construction of road layouts.
The elders stated they were however determined to ensure they resolved the matter and appealed to the Committee to intervene. The Committee counseled the parties to take the path of peace and equally reprimanded the elders for encroaching on the Petitioner’s land to demarcate road layouts without his consent.
The Committee directed the parties to go back to the drawing board, reconsider their 50:50 sharing formular, which it said was the crux of the matter, have a common ground of understanding and bring back word to the Committee.
“We enjoin you all to discuss as family, with compassion and caring heart. ” Hon. Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga stated.
The elders were happy and expressed appreciations to the Committee for helping them have a clear and easy path towards a peaceful resolution.
The matter was adjourned till October 17.
Sitting continues in Benin.
