Six property investors have dragged Sterling Oil
ploration and Energy Production Co. (SEEPCO) Limited and representatives of the umu-Azaka Anie family before the High Court of Delta State, sitting in Asaba, over disputed property.
The plaintiffs are Chief Iduh Famous Amechi, chinedu Omenogor Kingsley, Mr Onowu ogechukwu, Mr Oshagbor Uchenna, Lt Cdr Wilson Egbo Ikwuni (Rtd) and Mrs Lilian Osogochukwu Ekeigwe.
Besides SEEPCO, other defendants in the suit are
subsidiaries of Sterling Oil Group, Ashtavinayak
Hydrocarbons Ltd, Chief John Onah, Ossai Monday Okiseuwe, Okolie Sunday, Lucky Ojumah and the Community Liaison Officer of SEEPCO Ltd.
The plaintiffs are asking the court to declare that the ownership of the disputed land/property lying at Utagba-Ogbe, Kwale, Ndokwa-West LGA of Delta State is vested on them who have a good title to it.
This, they said, followed the passage or divesting of all of the 3rd and 4th defendant’s (vendor) interest to the plaintiffs through a properly executed deed of conveyance dated February, 7, 2015 between the 3rd defendant (vendors) and the 4th plaintiff(purchaser).
The plaintiffs also wants the court to declare that the encroachment of the plaintiffs’ respective properties at Utagba-Ogbe, Kwale, Ndokwa-West LGA of Delta State by the 1st and 2nd defendants either through their servants, privies, assigns and/or agents is unlawful and amounts to sheer acts of trespass.
As a result, the plaintiffs are praying the court
or a perpetual injunction restraining the 1st and
2nd defendants, either through their servants,
Privies, assigns and/or agents from further acts
trespass into their respective properties.
An order of this court directing the 1st and 2nd
defendants to pay to the 1st plaintiff, the sum of
N100 million being special damages for destruction of the 1st plaintiff’s cash crops/ economic trees planted on his property.
“An order of this court directing the 1st and 2nd defendants to pay to the plaintiffs, the sum of
30 million, being general damages for the
Psychological trauma and deprivation from the
Use and enjoyment of their respective properties
lying at Utagba-Ogbe, Kwalle, Ndokwa-West
LGA of Delta State, meted on the plaintiffs by
the defendants, owing to their sheer and
repeated acts of trespass thereon,” the plaintiffs
prayed in their writ of summons, adding that
ley want to be paid N20 million as cost of
action.
According to the writ issued on behalf of the
Plaintiffs by their counsel, Evans Ufeli, the
plaintiffs want an order of court directing the 1st
and 2nd defendants to pay to the plaintiffs, the
Judgment sum at an interest rate of five per cent
per month until judgment is delivered, and
thereafter, 25 per cent yearly until the entire
Judgment sum is liquidated.
In their statement of claim, the plaintiffs
averred that on February 7, 2015, the 1st plaintiff
purchased a land from the 3rd, 4th and 5th
efendants in Ogbe Ani quarters, Utagba-Ogbe, Kwalle, Delta state totaling 14 plots – 50ft by 100ft each were issued the land purchase receipt by the head of the 3rd defendant.
The purchase receipt, they claimed, was signed by the head of the 3rd defendant, the secretary
as well as by the youth leader in line with the
established process in place.
The plaintiffs averred that in addition to the
receipt issued by the 2nd defendant, a deed of
conveyance between the 2nd defendant and the
1st plaintiff, which was prepared by a lawyer and a
Co-signed (executed) on February 7, 2015
further gave legal teeth to the transaction and
legal transfer of absolute interest in the
Property to the 1st plaintiff.
The plaintiffs also stated that they surveyed the
Property with plan number AOD/DT/1010/2017.
“The plaintiffs averred that the 1st plaintiff
commenced farming, planting of trees and cash
crops on the land and unknown to him, upon his
Visit to the land sometime in January 2021, he
discovered that his crops and trees had all been
hacked down and destroyed by surveyors who
Professionally cleared a long line that had passed through his property, “they claimed.
