UMUEBO RECLAIMS ASIAKA LAND AS COURT AFFIRMS OWNERSHIP

The Customary Court, Aboh, in Ndokwa east local government area of Delta State has affirmed that Umuebu town, Umuochi – Utchi, rightfully owns the Asiaka land.

The land, which is situated at Mmili-Uku road, Umudie, Umuochi, had been used and sometimes leased out to farmers in times past.

However, in 2019, the people of Umudie Quarters in Umuochi-Utchi dragged the owners, Umuebo people, to  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 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 on 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, supported by  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.