Victory for Ugbowo has finally arrived as the long-running battle over the illegal conversion of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) land ends in favour of the host community.
After years of peaceful protest, court petitions, and relentless pressure on government authorities, the people of Ugbowo have secured legal recognition of their grievances regarding the misuse of their ancestral land.
This is a major breakthrough in a saga that had threatened the peace and unity of the Edo State community.
The land in question, originally acquired in 1969 for public use under the now-defunct Bendel State Government, had been subject to illegal resale by a syndicate allegedly made up of UBTH and Federal Ministry of Land staff.
Despite a court-ordered restraining directive, construction and land sales had continued in defiance of the law—until now. The recent legal victory confirms that the restraining order has been upheld, all illegal sales halted, and investigations into the assets of those involved launched.
The petitioners, led by Elder Benjamin Iyase, Pa Andrew Ifaluyi Ekue, and Chief Osemwengie Ero, can now breathe a sigh of relief. Their stand against alleged intimidation by Christabel Itohan Osawaru Oluku and her police officer husband has paid off.
The community’s patience and reliance on legal means, rather than retaliation, earned praise from judicial authorities who urged immediate compliance and restitution.
This ruling also restores hope in the Nigerian legal system for many communities facing similar encroachments. More importantly, it sends a strong message to public officials that abuse of office and betrayal of public trust will not go unpunished. The Ugbowo elders are now calling for peace, urging the youth to remain calm as government agencies enforce the ruling and begin reclaiming the misused lands.
With the UBTH land scandal now officially curtailed, Ugbowo stands tall—a united, resilient people whose insistence on justice over violence has paid off. Their victory sets a precedent, reminding Nigeria that community land can not be converted into private fortunes without consequence.
