Edo Indigenous Leader Commends Police Over Arraigning Violators Of Land Grab Act In Court

By Isaac Eranga

Benin City: Edo indigenous leader and President of Edo Indigenous Movement (EIM) also known as Edo Progressive Indigenous Association (EPIA), Chief Dr. Omogiade Enoyiogiere Edokpolo, has lauded members of the Nigerian Police, especially men if the zone 5 headquarters, for charging to court, persons that assaulted him over plots of land that “rightly” belongs to him at the Uhunokire/Aguwagboi close to Amagba axis in Benin.

Dr. Edokpolo made this commendation in Benin while feeding questions from newsmen. He thanked everyone who has shown solidarity on the subject matter and also to those who have shown “sympathy on this notorious assault that was done” on him.

“I want to thank God almighty and the Nigerian Police Force for securing the prosecution of the hoodlums and thugs led by one Mr Victor Osaigbove who assaulted me and threatened my life couple of weeks ago. They invaded my property at Uhunkire/ aguwagboi community. At that time, I cried to the Nigerian Police for justice and thankfully, they responded.

“They have been officially arraigned in court with 6 count charges, and they include: Conspiracy to wit assault. Sec 516 of Criminal code law; assault occ Harm Sec 355; conspiracy to wit Malicious Damage Sec 516; malicious Damage Sec 451; conspiracy to wit Deprivation of liberty Sec 517; and deprivation of liberty Sec 356.

“EPIA boss whose membership sprawl round the world, uses this medium to call on the court to make justice prevail on the subject matter. This is the primary reason why Nigerians in diaspora are very concerned whether there is justice in our land. If justice is served in key cases like this, it will go a long way in boosting the confidence of our people in diaspora, and will motivate them to come back home, believing they are secured.

“I want to use this opportunity to call on all the youth in Edo State to desist from land grabbing and invest their time and intellect on productive ventures that will promote their dignity. I want to also call our people around the world not to lose hope in our country Nigeria, particularly Edo State. There’s still justice in this land and it takes people like you and I, to seek justice and to ensure justice prevails, whenever issues occur.

“A land where good people are silent, evil takes over the society. So let us not cultivate the habit of keeping silent when injustice has robbed the land, believing that nothing can be done. If you are quiet and I’m quiet, who will restore the legal justice? Who will restore the dignity of our State? I will not give up untill justice is served”, Chief Dr Omogiade Edokpolo said.

EPIA had earlier expressed the displeasure as contained in a statement signed by the Founder of Edo Indigenous Movement (EIM), Chief Dr Bishop Omogiade Enoyiogiere Edokpolo, and made available to newsmen in Benin City some weeks ago, over the seemingly abandonment of the land grab act in Edo State, saying local and international investors in the diaspora have threatened a rethink in investing in the State. This was as a result of the attack on the leader of Edo indigenous movement who has been campaigning to attract Edo indigenes and non-indigenes in the diaspora to come to Edo State to invest, assuring them that Edo is a safe place to invest. The investors opined that if the Edo indigenous leader could be a victim of land grab act and in the process assulted by his fellow indigenes, they have no option than to have a rethink about investing in Edo State.

The statement had reiterated this: “we are using this medium to call on the governor of Edo State- Mr. Godwin Obaseki, traditional rulers, and security agencies to kindly help in swinging into action the enforcement of the land grab act signed into law by Governor Obaseki in 2017.

“This is a clarion call to Governor Obaseki, traditional rulers, and the various security agencies,  to reassure the investors and Edo indigenous people living in the diaspora who are concerned about the high level of insecurity in the State, that the State is now safe for them to invest. In measuring this assurance, the people need a clear prove of the enforcement of the land grab act. This should serve as a renewed that the Governor would put in enforcing the land grab act”, the statement said.

It’s on record that  Governor Godwin Obaseki on on April, 2017,  signed into law a bill prohibiting forceful and illegal occupation of landed property by community development associations, CDAs, in Edo State. Mr. Obaseki said he prioritised the signing of the bill because investment will not thrive in a lawless environment in an apparent reference to the chaos and impunity that often come with land grabbing activities. The Governor said his  administration believed that the way to sustainable development is to unleash and nurture a  productive energy and that of investors.

The governor also noted that Edo State land tenure system in the decades past was “rated as the best,” but recent “nefarious activities” of CDAs had truncated that peaceful arrangement.

“With the charging of the culprits to court, we believe that our call to governor obaseki has yielded positive result. The attendent effect will be the building of more hope on Governor Obaseki led administration.