By Ijeoma Umeh
Benin City – Community leaders in Edo State have been tasked on peace and harmonious living without which communities cannot develop.
Hon Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga (Retd), Chairman, and other members of the Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee had during the Committee’s sitting in Government House, Benin City yesterday secured a pledge by leaders of Okumagiagie Community to maintain peace at all times in their community as they worked to resolve lingering land disputes in that community.
The Petitioner, Mr Uyi Ogbebor had in a statement informed the Committee that in the year 2020 he speculated on a parcel of land measuring 1350 feet by 1200 feet said to belong to the family of the Vendor, Mr Nosakhare Igbinedion, and in concert with his agents made findings regarding the genuineness of the land before subsequently paying the sum of #600,000 for the said land.
He noted that as soon as he made efforts to start development on the land, he was chased away by the sons of the Odionwere, Pa Izevbigie and since then, he had been unable to continue work on the land.
On their part, the Respondents, Odionwere and other leaders of the community, claimed that the Petitioner trespassed into a vast land without getting proper approvals nor seeking information from the community in order to know the boundaries between the Igbinedion’s land and land belonging to other people, thereby encroaching on other people’s land.
At the end of hearing, the Committee directed the Police Investigative Team to visit the scene with all the parties involved with a view to properly determining what belonged to whom. It advised them to eschew violence and continue to tow the path of peace. The case was adjourned till May 23.
The Committee heard 31 cases on the whole, with several cases on commencement and reports from Investigative Police Teams on cases still on investigation and those nearing settlement.
Meanwhile, a Petitioner, Bridget Abusomwan appeared at the Committee to report that the 3 Respondents involved in the encroachment on her land measuring 400feet by 800 feet had almost concluded settlements with her.
She expressed appreciations to the Committee for facilitating the recovery of her land.
The Committee also resolved misunderstandings between a Plaintive and Respondent on settlement of administrative fee charged at the Multidoor Court.
A Resolution had been drafted by the Committee and parties were expected to go to the Multidoor Court for legal endorsement of draft resolutions which embodied the terms of settlement.
The Committee advised both parties to equitably share the fees that were charged at the Multidoor Court in order to be rest assured that the case may not be put on hold for a negligible reason. The parties agreed to jointly bear the cost.
Sitting continues in Benin City.