…PPP Directs Respondent to Increase Bargain

Benin City – Members of the Edo State Private Properties Protection Committee, led by Hon. Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga yesterday directed that all parties in the land matter between Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika, former Council Boss, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Edo State Chapter, and the Respondent, Ohen of Okhuoromi, be brought as witnesses before the Committee by the next hearing.

Otunba Aladenika had brought a petition before the Committee over seizure of his land situate at Okhuoromi which was a second seizure after his original land was seized and the current one given to him as replacement.

He had built two structures at DPC level on the current one when it was again encroached on.

“When they encroached on the first, it came with a threat. However, they called me back to relocate me to this second plot, I paid ’emolu’ and all the requirements and developed it, put up two structures at DPC level, hoping that as soon as I get more funds, I would continue the project, only for me to be alerted that my structures had been demolished by an encroacher who immediately started building on the land. This time around, I had to raise an alarm.” Otunba Aladenika recounted the incident before the Committee during hearing yesterday in Government House, Benin City.

In a previous hearing, the Committee had directed that parties were to meet and come up with a sum as repayment for the land measuring 100ft by 100ft seized from the Petitioner, Otunba Mike Ade Aladenika.

However, negotiations were at deadlock until the matter recommenced hearing yesterday.

While the Petitioner is claiming the sum of #11m, the Respondent who sold the disputed land to the Petitioner was offering #2m, in addition to offering his land, which he said he was ready to hand over to the Petitioner and ‘stand in watch’ as he raised structures on the land. This is as he also appealed to the Petitioner to get a buyer for the said land, in the event that he does not want the exchange.

The Petitioner said he did not want the new exchange.

“If the Petitioner cannot take the Okhuoromi land, why would you think he can stick up his neck and sell to another when he has been twice beaten?” The Hon. Justice Alero Edodo-Eruaga asked rhetorically.

After listening to both parties while they negotiated terms of repayment, the Committee directed that the Respondent should increase the repayment sum.

“You are the one standing alone in the dock for something committed by your group of allies. They have abandoned you, and being a civil servant, you have so much to lose if we escalate this matter beyond this level. But we don’t want you to lose. You say you cannot afford to part with more than #2m, and the Petitioner is asking for #11m. You have to raise the bar.”

Also in an advisory note to the Petitioner, the Honourable Justice stated:

“Mr Petitioner, we understand where you are going and where you are coming from; you have suffered much ordeal from these land grabbers. But you may not get all that you are asking for. You may have to accept a downward payment, so that you can get something out of this matter.”

The Committee has however directed that all parties in the matter be brought before the Committee on or before the January 26, 2023 adjournment date.

“We want to look for all the land grabbers in this matter and charge them accordingly. From the first land to the new area of relocation, we want to know who sold, resold, who is building and who occupies.”

Sitting continues in Benin City.