By Austin Ogwuda
A US-based Nigerian, Ambassador Ebele Maduka has accused the Delta State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mr. Darlington Nnamdi Ijeh for allegedly grabbing his land which he genuinely acquired from him (Ijeh) since 2017.
Maduka said the plot of land is situate, and known as Plot 3C, Dalo Estate, by Asaba International Airport, along Asaba – Onitsha Express Way, Asaba in Oshimili South Local Council of Delta State, and registered at No 14, page 14, Volume C0238 at the lands registry, Asaba with Certificate of Occupancy No. DTSR 17398.
Maduka’s Solicitor, Chidel Onuora Esq disclosed this at a press briefing in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria, weekend.
According to the Solicitor, a letter has been writing to the Commissioner of Police, Delta State Command to report the trespass, threat and criminal intimidation against some suspects who had stopped his client from developing his property in Asaba.
Onuora, noted that his client, Maduka, had some time in 2017 bought the land from one Darlington Ijeh and had settled payments for the property and executed a Conveyance Agreement.
He said that following the breach, his client, Maduka, had writing and sought to meet with Mr ijeh (seller) to discuss the the issues, but all to no avail.
He said that it had become necessary to to notify the Police and to brief the press on the development to prevent possible breakdown of law and order since all avenues to reach the land seller had failed.
He said that while investigating the issues, a certain Supreme Court judgement was presented to him but after studying it, the document had nothing to do with his client’s land.
Onuora said, “Our Client ( Maduka)
was approached by one Darlington Ijeh to purchase land from his (Ijeh) estate located near the Asaba International Airport, at Plot 3C Dalo Estate.
“The Estate is registered as No. 14, page 14, Volume CO238 at the Lands Registry Asaba with Certificate of Occupancy, No. DTSR 17398.
” Our client who was ready to develop his land is under threat as his cousin with the workers who were at the site to commence work were threatened, chased and warned not to return to the land by some irate youths who claimed the land belonged to them.
“On further enquiry, we gathered that the property belonged to Umuodafe family, who incidentally is the same family from whom our client traces his origin of title through Mr Ijeh from whom he purchased.
“Our client is desirous of developing his property but with threats he receives, it has become important to report the matter to the Police to
seek the protection of the Police over an alleged threat and criminal trespass on his landed property in Delta”, stated the Ambassador’s counsel.
But in his reaction, Commissioner Darlington Ijeh, in a telephone interview, “I don’t have any problem with anybody regarding property or land. So, if he is having any problem anywhere, I believe the best is for him to come to me not claiming he wrote to me.
“Umuodafe family called on all land title owners to come and ratify their documents following the Supreme Court judgment, I called him consistently but at a time he stopped picking my calls.
“I have called him (Maduka) to come and settle the family. The family is asking, now they have Supreme Court judgment, and they have started claiming all the lands including my own lands.
“So, instead of him (Maduka) to come down and let’s sort things out with the family and because my mother is from the Umuodafe family, so by right we won the case”.
*Photo caption: Ambassador Maduka’s lawyer Chidel Onuora Esq addressing the press
