ILLEGAL, UNLAWFUL INVASION COMMUNITY: Obagie-Nevbuosa Appeals To Gov Obaseki For Intervention
By Simeon OSAJIE
The Elders and people of Obagie-Nevbuosa Community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State has appealed to Mr. Godwin Obaseki, the Executive Governor and the Chief Security Officer of the state to come to their rescue over the illegal invasion of their community by the people of Amagba village.
In a petition address to the governor of Edo State, through their lawyer, G. E. Oaikhena Esq. for G. E. Oaikhena & Co, Legal Practitioners and Property Consultant with office situated at 23, Murtala Muhammed Way, Benin City, Edo State, the Obagie-Nevbuosa Community appealed to the Governor of Edo State as the Chief security officer of the State to intervene in this ugly action of Amagba in order to prevent anarchy in the communities.
The petition read in parts: “ILLEGAL AND UNLAWFUL INVASION OF OBAGIE-NEVBUOSA COMMUNITY BY THE PEOPLE OF AMAGBA VILLAGE AND DISRESPECT TO THE OBA’S DECISION REFLECTED IN THE LETTER DATED THE 3RD OF JULY 20212 AND ILLEGAL PLANTING OF THE SIGN POST IN OBAGIE-NEVBUOSA COMMUNITY PROCLAMINIGN AS AMAGBA COMMUNITY.
“We act as Solicitor for HRH Ogbemudia Imadonmwuyi (The Enogie of Obagie-Nevbuosa Community), Pa. Omozuhiomwen Aiguobatile Okungbowa (The Odionwere), Pa. Michael Alohan, Pa. Igbinedion Owenaze, Pa. Joseph Idemudia, Wilfred Otamere and the entire people of Obagie-Nevbuosa village, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State, (hereinafter referred to as our “Clients”) and on whose instructions we do write you this letter of protest.
“We were reliably informed and indeed aware of some of the following facts:
“That HRH Ogbemudia Imadonmwuyi is the Enogie of Obagie-Nevbuosa community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State from time immemorial; .
“That Amagba village is also a community under the Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State which has an Enogie in Benin City;
“That Obagie-Nevbuosa village is an autonomous and distinct village from Amagba community and they have a common boundary which is River Oroma,
“That there is a camp situate at Obagie-Nevbuosa village which is called Okoroma Camp who were given the land to settle by the Enogie of Obagie-Nevbuosa village many years ago and they are customary tenants to the people of Obagie-Nevbuosa village;
“That it is the Enogie of Obagie-Nevbuosa village that normally install the Odionwere of Okoroma Camp being a part of his community in accordance with the Benin custom;
“That in 2012, the people of Amagba invaded Obagie-Nevbuosa village during the installation of the Odionwere of Okoroma Camp illegally;
“That the matter was reported to the Oba of Benin and the Oba of Benin and set up a panel of his palace chiefs to investigate the illegal invasion, and after hearing the case, the Oba of Benin held that the Okoroma Camp was a part of Obagie-Nevbuosa village and that the River Oroma was the boundary between Amagba and Obagie-Nevbuosa community and the decision was reduced to a writing. A copy of the decision is herein attached for your perusal;
“That the people of Amagba later went to file a case against the people of Obagie-Nevbuosa village and later withdrew the case when it was clear that the case was frivolous;
“That in 2021, the people of Amagba invaded Obagie-Nevbuosa village and the Odionwere and elders took Amagba people to High Court, Benin City, in suit No. B/1116/2021 which was assigned to High Court No. 12, Benin City,
“That the court held that the parties should maintain the status quo while case is pending in the court. A copy of the court order is herein attached for your perusal;
“That on or about the 28″ day of May 2023, the people of Amagba community went to plant a sign board in Okoroma camp in Obagie-Nevbuosa village proclaiming the place as Amagba in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State across Oroma River which is the natural boundary between Obagie-Nevbuosa village and Amagba in two different Local Governments. A copy of the sign post is herein attached for your perusal;
“That the action of the people of Amagba referred to above have now caused tension and anxiety on Obagie-Nevbuosa village which is likely to cause a breach of the peace in the two communities;
“In the premises of the above analysis, we are appealing to the Governor of Edo State as the Chief security officer of the State to intervene in this ugly action of Amagba in order to prevent anarchy in the communities.”
