By Kadiri Christopher
The leaders of the Oke-Oroma community in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State have dragged the Edo State government to a High Court of Justice Holden in Benin City over what is tagged notice of consequences of disobedience to order of court.
In a certified true copy made available to the media, the claimants, Gaius Idusuyi Emokpae, Monday Omorogiuwa, Abel Uwadiae Emokpae, Paul Uwuivbonse Isibor and Silvester Eduwuirofo declared that unless the state government obey the directions contained in the court order, the state government is guilty of the court and will be liable.
On the enrollment order, the claimants prayed the honourable court for an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, servants and/or privies from further trespassing on, bulldozing or developing the claimants landed property at Oke-Oroma village with an area of 714,750 hectares or doing anything whatsoever on the land in dispute that is inconsistent with the rights of claimants, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The claimants further prayed an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the respondents from taking possession of community’s landed property at Oke-Oroma village, nor destroy the crops there on or improvements on the aforesaid landed property, pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The suit with number B/61/2022 had for service on the Managing Director and Surveyor-General both of the Edo State Geographic Information Service (Edo GIS).
The respondents are the Governor of Edo State, Attorney-General of Edo State, Edo GIS, Pa Omozuhiomwen Aiguobatile Okungbowa, Pa Igbinedion Owenaze and Pa Samuel Orhue Aganmwonyi.
Other respondents are Pa Joseph Idemudia, Pa Johnson Amenaghawon, Pa Edward Osadiaye, Pa Michael Alohan, Michael Omoruyi, Pa Iserienrien Orobosa, Wilfred Otamere, Matthew Erhunmwunse, Pa Aigbogun Ogbeiwi, Festus Edegbe Ekenaiye, HRH Frank Igbinenikaro, Pa Joseph O.S. Iduoriyekemwen, Ohen Peter Erhinmwinrose, Elder David Uzzi, Elder Peter Enoghayin and Rnogie Samson.
For service, Innocent Ehiaguina Bello the Managing Director of the Edo GIS, Abdulwasiu Oyakhire The Committee Secretary and Aghedo the Surveyor General of Edo State were all served the restraining order granted by Justice Vera Eboreime at the High Court 9 where justice Ovbiagele is currently hearing the case.
Therefore, it is pertinent to note that those who are hiring security agents to guard workers working to develop their property in Oke-Oroma are disrespectful to the court order already pronounced and established.