……Edo Private Properties Protection Committee Tells Disputing Relatives
By Ijeoma Umeh
Benin City – The Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee yesterday directed Parties in a dispute over land said to belong to their relative, Late Monday Igbinoghene to prove their case by making additional statements and bringing in more witnesses.
Addressing both Madam Isoken Igbinoghene Ewansiha and Mr Ose Igbinoghene, sister and son to the deceased respectively, Hon Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga (Rtd), Chairman of Committee, stated that a transaction such as the nature of the case in contention could not have been done in isolation without the involvement, or in agreement with other family members, and advised both Petitioner and Respondent to hasten and do the needful before the next hearing on the matter.
According to the Respondent, his father had passed on in 1997 in Benin City, and after he had performed the funeral rites of his father, he approached family members to seek their counsel regarding how to take charge of his father’s property. According to him, his extended family members agreed with him and he was promptly introduced to his auntie, Madam Isoken Igbinoghene, the Petitioner, who in turn facilitated a meeting where he was introduced to his late father’s tenants.
He noted that the said auntie had been the one solely in charge of collecting rents from his father’s property.
The Respondent however stated that trouble began after he resolved to sell part of his inheritance, described as a parking space measuring 24 ft by 140ft in his father’s property situate at 11, 7th Osemwede Lane in Benin City to one GM Pharmacy.
This action, according to the Respondent, was to enable him raise funds to maintain the entire building where his father lived until his demise.
He further stated that the Petitioner, his Auntie, is laying claim to the ownership of the said land and that she had dragged him before the Edo-PPP.
Madam Isoken Igbinoghene’s attempt to explain that her Late brother, Monday Igbinoghene was not the first son was halted by the Committee, as the Honourable Justice Eruaga (Rtd) insisted both parties should ensure their witnesses appeared in the next hearing.
The Committee also advised the parties to make additional statements to support their claims.
On his part, Mr Ose Igbinoghene also narrated how the Petitioner “abducted” his father’s remains and went ahead outside Benin to bury him in Sapele without the family’s knowledge. He was however also directed by the Committee to ensure he stopped further development on the disputed land pending resolution of the matter.
The case has been adjourned till May 8 when all relevant documents and witnesses are expected to be ready for detailed hearing of the matter.
