Community Development Association resolves to hand land to septuagenarian
Two weeks after BDSunday, published a story titled, Land grabbers on the Prowl in Edo, as septuagenarian seeks Oba, Obaseki’s intervention, denies social media reports, the Iguadolor Community has resolved to hand over a disputed land to the rightful owner.
BDSunday had on February 19, 2017, reported that Edwin Idemudia Amrenre, a septuagenarian, has cried out to the Oba of Benin, Oba Ewuare II, and the Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, of the efforts of the Iguadolor Community to take land he legally bought from the community.
Amrenre said he acquired the parcel of land, measuring 450 feet by 200 feet, situated at Iguadolor community in Ovia North-East Local Government in 1976.
The septuagenarian, who is also a hotelier, explained that besides the amount paid for the purchase of the land in 1976, in 2012, he paid the sum of N750,000 for development fees, N10,000 for inspection of the land, as well as N20,000 for community development association committee.
He posited that due to the embarrassment he had to approach an Edo High Court sitting at Okada, the administrative headquarters of Ovia North-East Local Government Area presided over by Justice U.I Erameh, where he secured a restraining order on October 6, 2016. He stated that in spite of the restraining order by the court, the community has not deemed it necessary to allow the rule of law to prevail.
A release made available to our correspondent and signed by Fred Imade, P.N. Ogbeni and Charles Odigie on behalf of the elders of the community resolved the ownership of the land in favour of Edwin Idemudia Amrenre.
The statement, titled: “Resolution on the land dispute between Iguadolor community and Edwin Idemudia Amrenre,” said: “we the Council of Elders of Iguadolor Community, km 12, Upper Siluko Road, Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State, do hereby resolved and re-affirmed the ownership of the land measuring: 200ft X 200ft, 200ft X 200ft and 50ft X 200ft situate at Iguadolor community, km 12, Upper Siluko Road, Ovia North-East Local Government Area, Edo State, as duly belong to you, Mr. Edwin Idemudia Amrenre.”
The community said it regretted the inconveniences and embarrassment caused Amrenre by actions relating to disputes either physically or through the media, among others.
On his coronation, the Benin monarch, Oba Ewuare II announced the proscription of activities of community development associations in the seven local government areas in the Edo South senatorial district.
Meanwhile, the state government in its plan to nip in the bud the unpleasant activities of community development associations, that had negatively threatened investors, sent an executive bill to the State House of Assembly to proscribe land speculators and grabbers.