Delta Community Drag State Government To Court Over Breach Of Settlement On Land Acquisition

Idumugbe Village in Umuonaje Quarters of Asaba; Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State have dragged the State Government to court over an alleged breach of settlement processes in the Ani-Ulor land acquisition.

It was earlier reported that officials of the state government had embarked on a demolition exercise on the said land situated along the Asaba-Ughelli expressway.

Consequently, the community; represented by Ogbueshi Kashie Umunna and five others approached the Asaba Division of the Delta State High Court against the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in Case Number; A/147/14.

The case, presided over by Justice G.B Briki-Okolosi, was however scheduled for hearing on December 5, 2022, after counsel for the state government made contrary arguments against claims made by the community.

Meanwhile, the representative of the Idumugbe Village Head, (Onu Diokpa), Ogbueshi (Engr, Eugene Umunna, had earlier revealed that the community has a 1970 and 1978 judgment of the Supreme Court over the contended land.

Ogbueshi Umunna said that the community had a Writ of Possession dated 1976 as well as a Warrant of Possession dated May 2004. Among other documents to prove ownership, Ogbueshi Umunna said that the community also has a court injunction on the Akwu-Ulor land.

While revealing the position of the government over the issue, Commissioner for Information, Mr Charles Aniagwu, explained that the state government acquired the contended land for developmental purposes in the interest of the public.

According to him ‘’In the course of time, previous administrations acquired several lands for the purposes of expanding government/developmental activities, and compensation was paid in some instances, while other compensations were ongoing.

(Independence)