Chief Osarumwense Agbonavbare
By Kingsley Abavo, Benin
A Benin Chief, Osarumwense Egharevba Agbonavbare has declared his legitimate ownership of the land where his ‘Sereba Farms’ is sited in Uhie, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, Edo State.
“I legitimately acquired my landed property where I established the ‘Sereba Farms’ in Uhie” he asserts displaying various documents as proof.
His assertion is in reaction to the allegation of land grabbing raised against him, by the people of Obaretin previously in the media.
They cried that Chief Agbonavbare illegally acquired their land for the ‘Sereba Farms’ after destroying their cash crops, which were part of their income earnings and now secured the entire area with army to intimidate them.
A couple of days ago, the 71 year old Chief denying the allegation said it was the Enogie of Oghobaghase who sold the land to him in the year 1993 adding that 10 communities made up the dukedom of Oghobaghase. They were without boundaries hence it was the Enogie alone in the olden days who had the authority to sell land.
For example, if a portion of land was sold for N100,000, he would give 30 percent to the owners of the land, he would take 30 percent and give the remaining 40 percent to the rest of the communities to share.
But as time progresses, the communities began selling their land themselves.
I borrowed money from my bank to buy the land in question and I acquired the certificate of ownership for it from the Edo State Government.
Chief Agbonavbare continuing narrates he was enjoying the land until early part of year 2001; the Odionwere of Obaretin whose name was simply given as Osagiede “said I did not buy the land from anyone and he took me to court.
But he had to withdraw the case on the realization that the land was genuinely acquired though I still paid him some money for the crops on the land and receipt was issued.
Let it be noted that the payment was supposed to be for the crops on the land because I had earlier paid to the Enogie for the land.
The Odionwere’s son Peter Osagiede was the one who endorsed the receipt and Barr. Ogefere was the one who handled the matter.
As proof, he presented a hand written document titled: ‘Payment Receipt’ dated 26 April, 2001 and signed by one Peter Osagiede on behalf of his father; and L.O Ogefere Esq. of no. 32, Siluko road, Benin-City signed as witness.
It was in 2015, one Paul Ehigie said he was the Okaighele of Uhie entered my farm with bulldozer to demarcate it into portions, and started selling them to unsuspecting buyers.
On the advice of a high ranking Chief of Benin, I decided to go to Abuja to effect their arrest where they signed an undertaking to refrain from encroaching and selling my Land.
Surprisingly, they again entered my land and I took them to Court, they pleaded with me and paid me the sum of N2m for damages and compensation.
For this claim, Chief Agbonavbare also presented for sighting a document of Memorandum of Understanding between him and the people of Uhie, carrying the endorsement of A.M.E Amadasun, Commissioner of Police; and dated 29 July, 2015.
In the latest onslaught, one Paul Ogieriakhi who calls himself a leader in Uhie village is the mastermind instigating others to want to grab Sereba farms land, he alleged.
He added that when he found the area in question was no longer feasible for farming, he entered into an MOU with an estate developer who agreed to give him the sum of N30m every three months for the 80 plots.
When the estate developer went to map out the land, Paul Ogieriakhi led a group of disgruntled persons from Uhie to go stop the work and seized the bulldozer.
The developer then informed me about the ugly happening asking I should talk to them and I did but they would still not listen.
The developer decided to take the matter to higher authorities and they were invited and prevailed upon to allow work continue to which they agreed.
But as soon as the estate developer again began work on site, on the invitation of the Paul’s led group; the people of Obaretin invaded Sereba farms land and forcefully ordered the bulldozer driver to bring down the perimeter fence on the farm land and started shooting sporadically thereby killing one person.
I decided to incident the attack and killing at the AIG Police Command in Benin. Thereafter, I took a step further to also report at the Edo State Agency, the Department of Public Prosecution who went to place ‘No Entry’ warnings at the site, but was ignored to launch the invasion and attack.
The Police consequently only managed to arrest one of the suspected invaders to the Ologbo Police Station, who was released almost immediately same day, on the excuse that Police from Abuja had come to take the case file even when I never reported any case with them. .
On my intervention, the case file was returned to Benin and as I speak, it is here in Benin.
To cut a long story short; they have been the ones giving me trouble; I no longer go to my farm, they have driven away all my workers.
So, in the prevailing situation, I decided to write for the assistance of the army which was approved to guard my farm.
Chief Agbonavbare further explained, the army are not stationed to attack anybody but to protect Sereba farms land from hoodlums, invaders and all sorts of threats.
He however added; “these persons are thriving in their nefarious acts because their patron, one Alhaji Ogiede Isiaka Ojo who is a member of the Odua Peoples Congress (OPC), is the one shielding them using his influence with the Police. Even they have threatened that they will teach me a lesson of my life.
But to say I grabbed their land, that is the biggest lie from the pit of hell, I have documents for my land.
They are rather the ones witch-hunting me trying to take over my land because they have sold all their land and non available to sell now.
So it is my own which I bought in the year 1993 legally covered with the Certificate of Occupancy with number EDSR 14403, and dated:19th of September, 2000 they want to take from me. I did not take their land, and I will never take their land.
It was also published in the Nigerian Observer under the Land Use Act 2001; “parcel of land at Uhie village Area transfered by the Enogie of Oghobaghase shown on survey plan No BOA/ED/90/99, Area A 7142 Hectares and Beacon nos; BDS 4171-BDS 4174, BDS 4724 and BDB 4125, Area B 113763 Hectares and Beacon No BDB 8471-BDB 8499,EDB 8070,
He assured that all the information provided are varifiable, challenging that if the Obaretin people know they are genuine, they should come out to defend themselves, as the matter is before the AIG, Police State CID, and Edo Private Property Protection Committee (EPPPC).
They have been invited severally to come defend themselves on the issues but have refused to turn up, one of them was however arrested and remanded to Oko prison untill the case will come up in court, while others are on the run, Chief Agbonavbare said.
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