Delta community wins age-long land dispute with Bayelsa

March 20, 2019
251 Views

Okia community in Burutu council area of Delta State has won an age-long land dispute with Agge community in Ekeremor council area of Bayelsa State.

The High Court of Justice, Delta State in the Bomadi Judicial Division holden in Bomadi ruled in favour of the Delta community after several years of delay, adjournments and trials.

The settlement was contained in a judgement delivered in Suit Number: HCB/13/2004 by the Court.

The Claimants had approached the Court wherein they sought four reliefs against the Defendants.

The Claimants, Messrs Pius Gbeneyi, Christopher Dove and Francis Akara, for themselves and on behalf of Okia Community in Burutu Local Government Area, Delta State, had dragged William Isiayei, Mt. Monday Lugbenwei, Mr. Okuku Imole Wurutuawei, for themselves and on behalf of Agge Community in Ekeremor Local Government Area, Bayelsa State, Defendants, to court over land tussle.

They claimed that the defendants are laying claim to the land as well as seeking to take benefits due to Okia Community from Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC).

The Claimant’s through their Counsel, Nnamdi Ugwuka tendered a Plan No. PP/DT/2K4/03. In their reliefs,the Community prayed the Court for. “A declaration of Statutory right of occupancy to that piece or parcel of land which is lying, being and situate at Okia Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria.

“An order of Perpetual Injunction retraining the Defendants from dealing with SPDC and/or Sterling in any manner whatsoever, including the implementation of the Integrated Pipeline Surveillance Scheme(IPSS) in relation to the Claimant’s aforesaid Community land situate at Okia Community, Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.

“A declaration that the Claimant’s Community being the rightful and bona-fide owner and in possession of the said Okia Community land, host to the aforesaid facilities belonging to the SPDC is the Community rightfully entitled to be considered by the SPDC for the implementation of the Integrated Pipeline Surveillance Scheme(IPSS) for host Communities especially on Okia Community land or any other contract which may be conceived by SPDC and/or Sterling or any other company whatsoever for host Community.

“A Perpetual Injunction restraining the Defendants by themselves, their servants, agents, privies, workmen or whosoever from interfering or disturbing the Claimant’s right and title to peaceful possession and occupation of the said piece or parcel land situate at Okia Community or preventing or denying the Claimant’s of the right of reaping the benefits accruing to their Community as host to the SPDC facilities and/or Sterling or any other company and whatsoever facilities located on the Claimant’s Okia Community land in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State.”

On their part, the Defendant argued the matter challenging them to prove their claims and title to the land in dispute amongst others.

Larry Ovwromoh Esq and V.A. Umukoro Esq represented the Defendants, Messrs Williams Isiayei, Monday Lugbenwei and Okuku Imole Wurutuawei who are representatives of Agge Community in Ekeremor LGA in Bayelsa State in Court.

Delivering judgement, the Court presided over by His Lordship, Hon. Justice Michael Nduka Obi, said, “I have given due consideration to the evidence of Claimant’s witnesses; the traditional history of the claimants was only challenged to the extent that the land in dispute formed part of Okibou land.

“Having now found that the Defendants failed to discharge the burden of proof in establishing that the land being claimed forms part of Okibou land, this Court believes the evidence of the 1st Claimant on the traditional history of the claimants as well as right of ownership exercised on the land in dispute.

“I find that the evidence of traditional history was conclusive in proof of their ownership of the land in dispute and the Court so holds. I resolve these issues in favour of the Claimants.

“Flowing from what I have heard above, I hereby declare that the Claimants are entitled to Statutory Right of occupancy to that piece or parcel of land known and called Okia Community land which land is lying, being and situate at Okia Community in Burutu Local Government Area of Delta State of Nigeria,” the court declared.

You may be interested

I Want To Take My Game To New Level –Lookman
Sports
Sports

I Want To Take My Game To New Level –Lookman

Webby - November 13, 2024

Super Eagles winger Ademola Lookman has reiterated his commitment to take his game to the next level.The Nigerian international, who…

AFCON 2025Q: Benin Republic Hit By Another Injury Blow
Sports
1 views
Sports
1 views

AFCON 2025Q: Benin Republic Hit By Another Injury Blow

Webby - November 13, 2024

Benin Republic will be without two more players for their 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying matches against Nigeria and…

Dier Set To Depart Bayern In Summer
Sports
2 views
Sports
2 views

Dier Set To Depart Bayern In Summer

Webby - November 13, 2024

Eric Dier is likely to leave Bayern Munich at the end of the season according to transfer expert and Sky…

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published.