…..Directs parties in multiple land sales to present their deeds of transfer
By Ijeoma Umeh
Benin City – Parties to a land grabbing petition brought before the Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee were today directed by the Committee to appear again on Friday, March 3 with deeds of transfer with which land allegedly belonging to the Petitioner was sold to three different people.
Making the Committee’s position known during the hearing today in Government House, Benin City, Hon.Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga (Retd), Chairman, stated that he who alleges must prove his case and also directed the Petitioner to bring forward the deed of transfer with which the said land was equally sold to him during the next hearing on the matter.
The documents, according to the Committee, will be scrutinized with a view to determining the history of multiple transfers of ownership by different vendors and the rightful owner of the land.
In a statement made to the Team of Investigative Police officers attached to the Committee, the Petitioner, Mr Samuel Olayemi, stated that he bought the land measuring 100ft by 100ft from one Ernest Daniel Osadolor in 2021, a plot carved out from a parcel of land measuring 100ft by 200ft owned by the vendor, Daniel Osadolor. He stated that he fenced his own portion off and proceeded to mold blocks in the land for future development.
He told the Police Team that it was while he tried to commence development in the land in June 2022 that he discovered that someone had encroached in the land by erecting twin boys quarter buildings there.
He said he later found out that the structure was put up by one Osagie(surname unknown), who claimed to be working for Pastor Abraham Chigbundu, a Benin based cleric.
He further stated that the parties dragged themselves before the Ohen of the community where it was discovered that the said land had passed from one Friday Ogbewe who transferred same to the vendor to the Petitioner, Mr Olayemi, and had also earlier transferred the same parcel of land to Prince Alvan Akenzua who in turn transferred to Abraham Chigbundu.
The parties are expected to appear before the Committee on Friday, March 3 with copies of the original deeds of transfer for scrutiny.
The case was one of 30 cases heard by the Committee today.
Sitting continues in Benin City.
