Land tussle : Anglican Church floors Edo monarch in court

Land tussle : Anglican Church floors Edo monarch in court

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An Edo State High Court sitting in Uromi , Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State, has delivered judgment in favour of Anglican Church in a land dispute between the church and the Onogie of Uromi, HRH Zaiki Anslem Aidenojie.

In his judgment, Justice A . Oyakhilome held that Anglican Church were the rightful owners of the land, measuring 3735 . 678 square meters, situated at the junction of Uromi /Ubiaja Road, having obtained an absolute grant from the great -grand father of the monarch ( defendant ) in 1930.

The court consequently granted the church’ s claim of injunction and awarded damages of N1 million and legal cost of N 15, 000 against the defendant.

The judgment is the second legal victory recorded by the church in eight years on the same land, as one Gregory Okpere had laid claim to the same land, leading to court action, at the end of which judgment was delivered in the church’ s favour by Justice D . I . Okungbowa on October 17, 2006.

The judge ruled that there were credible evidence before the court, based on exhibits provided by the claimant, that the church were the rightful owners, and dismissed the claim by the defendant that the church was a customaryntenant.

He said the defendant could not provide the court with credible evidence, saying his claims were mere ‘hear say ’ , as evidenced by his testimonies before court , during which he only said his father told him the land belonged to the palace of Uromi.