Edo AGF, others face jail over disobedience to court judgment

By Jethro Ibileke

A Benin City High Court, presided over by Hon Justice Imadogbelo, has summoned the Edo State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Roland Otaru (SAN) and the State Commissioner for Lands and Housing, Yakubu Musa, to show cause why they should not be committed to prison for disobeying a court judgment.

Also summoned are the General Manager of Edo Geographical information Service and the Secretary of Edo Lands Restitution Committee, Dr Abdulwashiu Oyakhire.

The summons dated January 27, 2026, spelt out a judgement which came in terms of settlement entered into by all parties on March 3, 2025, which according to the applicant was disregarded by the State Attorney-General and others.

The judgement followed a case in suit No. B/672/2023, instituted by Mayer Uyiekpen Ologbosere and Portcall lnternational Farms Limited as applicants, over a parcel of land measuring approximately 200.309 hectares, marked and delineated in the survey plan No. SEA/ED/97, attached to the Certificate of Occupancy No. EDSR 14764, situated at Obagie Nevbuosa village, Benin city.

In an affidavit of support to the form 49, the applicants told the court that the terms of settlement were at the instance of parties to the matter and was formed a judgement in the presence of the Attorney-General and Commissioner For Justice who was represented in court, according to court papers.

The consent judgement awarded the land measuring 200.309 hectares to Mayer Uyiekpen Ologbosere and Portcall lnternational Farms Limited.

Instead of abiding by the judgement, the defendants (sought to be committed to prison) have now commenced acts of trespass to the entire property of the applicants as they have also started sharing the applicants’ land among third parties.

The affidavit said the parties sought to be committed to prison are acting in utter disregard and in contempt of the consent judgement.

As at press time, all the parties mentioned and sought to be committed to prison have been served with the court form 49.