The traditional ruler of Ogwashi-Ukwu Kingdom in Delta State, HRM Obi Ifechukwude Okonjo, has urged communities to respect court judgements concerning disputed lands.
Okonjo, made the appeal on Saturday in a statement signed by the Palace Secretary, Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi in Asaba, the state capital.
The youths from the Ubulu-Okiti community in Aniocha South Local Government Area of the state staged a protest on Friday, alleging land-grabbing.
The Youth President of Ubulu-Okiti, Ifechukwude Nwabuebo, claimed that Ogwashi-Ukwu Kingdom had unlawfully taken community land.
Okonjo, in reaction, stated that the disputed land has a customary certificate of occupancy from the Bendel State Government and a certificate of occupancy from the Delta State Government, both of which belong to the Ogwashi-Ukwu community, leaving no grounds for any dispute over its ownership or location.
He said: “We hereby respond to the recent protest at the Delta State Government House by youths purportedly from Ubulu-Okiti and Ubulu-Uku, accusing the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku of land-grabbing.
“The allegations made in their protest are incorrect, false, malicious, and an attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, who is law-abiding and strictly adheres to the rule of law.
“The facts are as follows: On December 16, 2024, police officers and beneficiaries of the court judgement were working on the land, as per the ruling in court case Suit No. 0/23/2021 by Honourable Justice K.O. Okpu.
“The court had issued a Warrant of Possession and Certificate of Possession, with the assistance of police officers due to insecurity in the area.
“These individuals were working in the area alongside police officers from the Inspector General of Police and Zone 5 Police Command in Benin, who were deployed for security on the land with a Writ and Warrant of Possession.
“The land in question has a customary certificate of occupancy from the Bendel State Government and a certificate of occupancy from the Delta State Government, so there is no valid claim regarding the ownership or location of the land.
“These perpetrators damaged equipment worth tens of millions of naira and endangered the lives of lawful officers and workers on site.
“If the perpetrators had any grievances regarding the lawful enforcement of the court judgement, they should have followed the proper legal channels and reported their concerns to the police instead of resorting to self-help, which has no place in a civilised society.
“I have welcomed the Commission of Inquiry and have responded to all claims brought before the commission. We await the results of the Commission of Inquiry, which will demonstrate that the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku is law-abiding and strictly follows the rule of law. Court judgements must be respected, and no one should take the law into their own hands.”