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By Ikhili EBALU, Benin City
The Counsel to the people of Obagie-Nevbosa Village, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State, Aikeoje Oaikhena Esq. has described the allegation of land grabbing by Olayiwola Afolabi Esq. and Elder Andrew Ikponmwonhodua Okunzuwa against his clients, as most fallacious and unreliable.
He stated this while reacting to the recent sponsored announcement in the media alleging the people of Obagie Nevbosa of land grabbing .
Oaikhena Esq. said the case of land grabbing does not arise, pointing out that Okunzuwa in the time past, fraudulently acquired a large expanse of land from the Enogie, HRH Stephen Usiomwanta in Obagie-Nevbosa.
When the people demanded that he produce the documents with which he acquired the said land, he was not forth coming.
This prompted the Odionwere, elders, and people to take him to Court in Suit No: B/979/2021 and in the course of the proceeding, the two parties involved reached a truce in a meeting, to settle the matter as the terms of agreement were reached; and signed by Counsel to the defendant: Olayiwola Afolabi Esq. and Counsel to the Claimants, people of Obagie-Nevbosa,Aikeoje Oaikhena Esq.
Also, both Claimants, Odionwere, Elders in Council, and the Okaighele, and defendant, Okunzuwa.
Oaikhena Esq. explained that consequently the terms of settlement were filed in the Court before Hon. Justice H. A. Courage Ogbebor, which he made, judgement of the Court.In the judgement dated Thursday, 3 June, 2022, it was written.
“The defendant has agreed to legally transfer a part of his entire land in dispute measuring 700 fts plots of land of 100ft × 100ft each earlier sold by the Enogie to the 1st defendant, and the Claimants have accepted the offer.
“By the terms of settlement, all hostility and Police cases arising from this land case shall be dropped immediately.
“In the circumstances, the terms of settlement dated 25 April, 2022 and signed by the parties and their counsel are hereby entered as judgement of this Court.”
Oaikhena Esq. further narrates,”Thereafter, Okunzuwa and his children in company of Afolabi went with a surveyor to demarcate the area agreed upon in the terms of agreement, and the people of Obagie-Nevbosa took the part which belongs to them.
“Surprisingly, around June this year, Okunzuwa and Afolabi again went to Court to file a fresh action over the same subject matter “.
“When we appeared in Court, we told the presiding Judge that there was an existing judgement in this matter and after filing of the necessary papers, the case was adjourned to 7 October, 2022 for further hearing.
“Therefore, for them to go and allege my Clients of land grabbing, that is most deformatory, and we take exception to that ,expecially as the issue is before a competent court .”
He says what Afolabi and Okunzuwa has done is contemptuous of the Court, adding their action shows the malice in them, and abuse of Court processes.
Oaikhena urged members of the public to ignore the announcement as “it was done in bad fate ,they are all lies, calculated by Elder Okunzuwa and his Councel to deceive unsuspecting members of the public, to curry cheap favour.
“Once a matter is in the Court, no Police can be involved, no government security can help you, it is purely a court matter. In-fact, Lawyers should be responsible people and know what to do at the right time .”
Recalled that Elder Okunzuwa had in the announcement appealed to relevant agencies to intervene and give him justice.
Oaikhena pointed out that against the erroneous impression Okunzuwa and his Councel wants to create in the mind of the public, the matter at stake is not about the Okaighele as a person, but the community of Obagie-Nevbosa and they should therefore leave him out it .
