1st October, 2022
By Jethro Ibileke
Elders of Oke-Oroma, a community in Ikpoba/Okha local government of Edo state, have threatened to file contempt proceedings against the the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Oluwole Iyamu, over demolition of buildings by the state government, despite a court order restraining it.
The threat followed outrage that has continued to trail the forcefully takeover and demolition of buildings in several communities in the name of repossession of lands belonging to state government from land grabbers, allegedly for the building of new town.
Recall that Justice Veestee Eboreime had, on 4 August, 2022, ruled in favour of elders and leaders of Oke-Oroma community and restrained the Edo Governor from further trespassing on, bulldozing or developing the land in dispute, situate and lying at Oke-Oroma Village, Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area of the State.
The Court had warned Edo government against doing anything whatsoever on the land in dispute that is inconsistent with the rights of Claimants/Applicants pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
In the Suit filed by Gaius Emokpae and five others, Justice Eboreime also granted an Interlocutory Injunction restraining the
Defendants/Respondents, (Edo State Governor, Attorney General and the Edo State Geographic Information Service) their servants, agents and/or privies from taking possession of the land situate and lying at Oke-Oroma Village.
Speaking on behalf of the elders of Oke-Oroma, Monday Omorogiuwa, who dismissed allegations of land-grabbing levelled by the state government, noted that the administration of former Governor Lucky Igbinedion de-acquired the forest reserve some years back.
He alleged that the forceful take over of the land was to hand over such to neighbouring Amagba community.
According to him, “What the Government has done is to trample on the order of court and subvert the rule of law. There is no issue of land grabbing involved. It is up to the Bar to defend the rule of law in our State and our law practice.
“Government is supposed to protect its citizens and not destroy their lives. To build a new town is not done through annexation and forceful acquisition. The action of Governor Obaseki is against United Nations’ rules on human rights. We will use the law to ensure our ancestral land is preserve for our generation to come.”
Meanwhile, a socio-cultural group, the Benin Solidarity Movement (BSM), has condemned the action of the Governor Obaseki-led government, saying developers would not have been allowed to spend money to erect structures on the land.
President-General of the group, Curtis Eghosa Ugbo, in a statement on Friday, described the destruction of the properties at a time Nigerians are passing through difficult times was wicked and devilish.
According to him, “One would have expected Governor Obaseki should have not only erected signposts in the said plots of land to show that the properties belong to the State Government but also create awareness of ownership of the said plots of land.
“These are Edo citizens who paid their taxes as at when due. They deserve accolade, they struggled to purchase the land unknown to them that the landed properties they had acquired belong to the Edo State Government.”
Similarly, a right activist, Barr. Daniel Osa-Ogbegie, in a statement, alleged that Governor Godwin Obaseki was acquiring community lands for his cronies and friends.
He said: “A Governor is subject to laws, not above the law. A resort to self help has been held in a plethora of cases to be illegal, ultra vires and therefore subject to payment of damages.
“My heart goes out to all those their houses were demolished by the Governor, but what really pains me is that Obaseki has been going around Edo South, grabbing communal lands on behalf of his friends, Nigerians and Chinese.
“Governorship is not forever. A time will come when books will be opened and there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
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