Aboh Court Affirms Umuebo Ownership Of Asioka Land
The members of Umuebo town, Umuochi-Utchi in Nadokwa East Local Government Area, Delta State, were in a frenzy of celebration recently as the Customary Court, Aboh, held that they are the owners of the land called Asioka land.
The land, which is situated at Mmili-Uku Road, Umudie, Umuochi, has been used and sometimes leased out to farmers as the need arises, from time immemorial.
However, in 2019, the people of Umudie Quarters in Umuochi-Utchi dragged the owners, Umuebo people, to the court, claiming ownership of the parcel of land.
They also claimed the sum of N500, 000 being general damages for trespass on the land sometime in 2017 and 2018.
When the case came up for hearing, the plaintiffs called three witnesses, in addition to another, who was summoned by the court, while the defendants also called three.
The defendants, who were declared owners of the land told the court that they allowed the plaintiffs access to the land to bury one of their deceased ruler and to farm before they started laying claims to it.`
According to a defence witness (DW1), His Highness, Nzekwe Isicheli Richard, who is the Okpala of Umuebo, the land belonged to Umuebo people but both the plaintiffs and defendants were farming on the land, adding that it was the defendants that gave a space in the land to the plaintiffs to bury their late king, Ogwu.
Delivering judgment in the case, the Chairman of the Court, Mr. A. I. Odigwe and supported P.C.O Ejeh, held that the people of Umuebo had proved their ownership of the land, adding that the Asioka land was not an Onini-Nze (Royal Cemetery) as claimed by the Umudie people.
The court also explained that the people of Umuebo proved their title to the land by traditional history and evidence and awarded a cost of N30, 000 against the plaintiffs and in favour of the defendants.
The plaintiffs are Chief Ikechukwu Asama, Chief Izuchukwu Enebeli for themselves and as representatives of Umudie Quarters while the defendants are Francis Ogwuazor, Oyibo Ewnnor, Ifeanyi Ogwuazor, Emeke Nwosa and Ifeanyi Dibia for themselves and as representatives of Umuebo town.
Regardless of the fact that we do not encourage fight and quarrel amongst brothers when it comes to land matters most especially when the parties concerned are from the same community, clan, village, local government , state of origin or the country at large. , It will be inhuman for some group of persons to draw a conclusion on a very sensitive matter as this, knowing too well on how it may affect the people at home.
Those that are involved in bringing up this lies should stop it immediately and resolve into peaceful settlement instead of initiating an idea that is capable of causing future problem in Umuochi Utchi.
The truth is that the said land belongs to the UMU OLISE FAMILY in Umudie originally. The Land where the Umuebo claims ownership of at the moment is called Onini Nze but they instead according to their publication, they said that Onini Nze is Asioka Land.
Let me make it clear that there is nothing like Asioka Land in Umuochi Utchi but instead, Okoli Oka which is situated at the boundary between Umuochi and Umu Aguyam and it belongs to Umuebo in Umuochi Utchi.
The information posted in an online platform that goes by this URL: https://emeraldng.com/ is actually baseless and a mere mix-up and should be disregarded.
The Onini Nze belongs to Umu OLISE FAMILY in Umudie but one of the member of the family by name Anthony (Nnabuenyi) took that land as his own share of the family land and he never sold it to anyone.
I am not and will never be part of anything that will bring about misunderstanding in anywhere but let the truth be said and it usually will set everyone free…
Let the court find out about Mr. Anthony, Umu Olise Family in Umuochi Utchi and do other proper findings that will maintain a lasting peace in Umuochi as we cannot afford to make our home a battle ground / unlivable place.