UGBOWO Community in Edo State has petitioned the new Chief medical Director, Prof. Idia Nibokun Ize-Iyamu and the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to rein in Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Mohammed Usman, Olayiwola Afolabi (SAN), former University of Benin Teaching Hospital Chief Medical Director (UBTH), Prof. Darlington Obaseki, Mr. Abu Jeremiah, Mr. Sylvester Ineyen, Mrs. Christabel Itohan Oluku, Barr. Uyi Okhiria & others who have been involved in the conversation of University of Benin Teaching Hospital’s land into personal use.
In a petition signed by
Andrew Ifaluyi Ekue Chief Osemwingie Ero, the Odionwere of the community, Elder Benjamin Iyare and Mr. Osayomore Ojo, the Secretary of the community and made available to Standard Daily Press in the nation’s Federal capital, Abuja, the petitioners accused the above mentioned persons of converting the public land, belonging to Ugbowo Community to private use, after the court had ruled that parties involved should stay actions on the expansive piece of land.
The petitioners accused (ASP) Mohammed Usman and the lawyer to the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Olayiwola Afolabi of using their power and connections to intimidate, suppress and subvert justice in the case that is already before the court of law.
“We the indigenous people of Ugbowo Community, Benin City, Edo State (their ancestral home of our forebears) bring this Petition against the Management of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), particularly, MRS. CHRISTABEL ITOHAN OSAWARU OLUKU; MR. UYI OKHIRIA and the Management staff of Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development (Benin Zone).
BACKGROUND FACTS
“On the 11th day of November, 1969, the Government of the former Midwestern State of Nigeria acquired a large expanse of our land at Ugbowo Community. It was our understanding as gazetted that the land will be used for PUBLIC PURPOSE ABSOLUTELY, particularly for the establishment of University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ugbowo Campus, and the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), both of which are public institutions which later built on parts of the said land.
“However, the unexhausted part of the acquired land has since been subjected to the nefarious activities of land grabbers, land speculators and fraudulent sale by some senior staff of the Federal Ministry of land, Housing and Urban development, Benin zone acting in collaboration with some top management staff of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), using forged documents, to unsuspecting members of the public and converting the illegal proceeds for their personal use.
“Emphatically, we find it curious that persons involved in this illegal enterprise are in the employment of University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) and the Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, Federal Secretariat, Ikpoba Hill, Benin City – (i.e. Mr. Abu Jeremiah, Mr. Sylvester Ineyen, Mrs. Christabel Itohan Oluku, Barr. Uyi Okhiria & others). All of which has not less than 30plots each for which they have sold part of it and also built thereon their personal houses.
“Interestingly, we have facts and evidence (some of which are attached to this petition) that these persons who pretend to be acting for their employers having applied the proceeds of their crime in erecting mansions and in the pursuit of frivolous and extravagant obsessions.
STEPS TAKEN SO FAR
“Upon becoming aware of the fraudulent and illegal activities, we took a decision to engage them peacefully which decision cumulated in several meetings and exchange of correspondences. However, many of such proposed engagements were disdainfully rebuffed and snubbed by them.
“Nonetheless, in some of our meetings with the Senior staffs of Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban development, we were told to our annoyance, discomfort and surprise, that the land, having been acquired by the Federal Government, can be dealt with by these persons in whatsoever way and manner they deem fit, including the unauthorised, unjustifiable outright sales and in manners inconsistent with the public interest for which the Lands were acquired and that we have nothing to do about it.
“It is pertinent to state that we find this approach grossly provocative, insensitive and daring. However, rather than act impulsively to this provocation, we chose the path of peaceful engagement, notwithstanding our knowledge of the fact that the original acquisition had even been done forcefully by a Fiat and without any records of compensation.
“Now, having exhausted all entreaties and overtures made at getting them to stop the continuous illegal sales of the land under the cover of the much bandied “allocation”, and the proceed witheld for their personal and self aggrandisement, we decided to enlist the service of a legal practitioner to help us institute a suit in pursuit of justice being the most civilised step in any sane clime.
“In order to forestall a breakdown of law and order, retaliation and reprisal by the parties involved, the court in its wisdom and due exercise of its jurisdiction, imposed a restraining order binding on all parties, pending the determination of the motion on notice pending in the suit.The said order still subsist till this moment.
“While we act in obedience to the Order and patiently await the outcome of the suit as law abiding and peace loving people, we are shocked to realise that the other parties have consistently acted in blatant disregard of the restraining Order as they continue to sell parts of the land to unsuspecting members of the public resulting in massive constructions and developments on the land by private individual despite the fact that the original acquisition was made strictly for public use.
“In a peaceful reaction to this utterly provocative actions, we erected CAVEAT bill boards in several strategic locations around the land but same were vandalised and stolen by those involved.
“The troubling development which has triggered the correspondence is that, as we write, building constructions are still being done on the land without restraints in violation of the restraining Order of Court with the result that the confidence of our angry youths in the justice system is gradually, but consistently being eroded and the option of self-help becoming more attractive.
“The KERNEL of this petition is to frantically draw your attention to the disobiedence and misconduct of the following public officers who are now involved in land grabbing and sale and witholding of the proceed of the unauthorised sale of the land which ordinarily reverts back to the Ugbowo Community to wit: MRS. CHRISTABEL ITOHAN OSAWARU OLUKU and Barr. Uyi Okhiria who are both staffs of the legal unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH); Mr. Abu Jeremiah and Mr. Sylvester Ineyen who are staffs of the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing (Benin Zone).
“The police had directed parties to stop selling and/or building on the land in dispute pending the determination of the case in court in order to forstall breakdown of law and order. As we write, that directive is being obeyed in its breach by MRS. CHRISTABEL ITOHAN OSAWARU OLUKU and Barr. Uyi Okhiria who are both staffs of the legal unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH); Mr. Abu Jeremiah and Mr. Sylvester Ineyen who are staffs of the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing (Benin Zone) to the chargrin of our community.
“It is beyond argument that our youths, in the face of these developments, now feel cheated, helpless and angry and it is in our efforts to prevent the likely breakdown of law and order that have neccesitated the inevitable decision to write to you for your possible intervention since public officers cannot be allowed to continue to act like loosed canon.
“CHRISTABEL ITOHAN OSAWARU OLUKU whose husband (CSP OLUKU) is the former DPO of Ugbowo police divisional Headquarter in Benin City, has vowed to continue to use the influence of her husband in the police force to harass, intimidate and arrest us using various trump up allegations due to her excessive but unjustifiable interest in the said land should the youth in the community dare to stop development on the land to her assigns. Photographs of Property belonging to CHRISTABEL ITOHAN OSAWARU OLUKU and her assigns are attached here as ANNEXURES 1,2&3. Video burn into a flash drive showing a proper view of the said property which value far exceed her worth as a public servant is also attached as ANNEXURES 4
“Latest of this intimidation is the petition against the Secretary of Ugbowo Community to the office of the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 5, Benin City and their lawyer is using his relationship with the zone to torment the community through one ASP. Mohammed Usman, O/C Zonal Intelligence Response Squad, Zone 5. Find attached the invitation letter and photographs of the police officers and Lawyer to CHRISTABEL ITOHAN OSAWARU OLUKU and their cohorts as ANNEXURES 5,6,&7.
“We have it on good authority, that the reason she has become so desperate in the pursuit of this her unrightous course is because of the impact the success of our case in court will have on the over 20% of the land she sold to unsuspecting members of the public in connivance with some top management staffs of the Federal Ministry of Land, Housing and Urban Development (Benin zone) using unauthorised allocation papers.
“Meanwhile, it is pertinent to call your attention to the activities of Mr. Uyi Okhiria, who is the head of legal Unit, UBTH which are contrary to his oath of office as a public officer to wit:
“He has while in the employment of UBTH been involved in preparing Deed of Assignment for private individuals with respect to land acquired from us by the Midwestern Nigeria for use only by the UBTH. Copies of the deed where he franked are attached as ANNEXURES 8&9
“He acted in his capacity as a lawyer and while employed in the UBTH as a legal officer, adviser of a Government department, signed a legal document and fixed thereon an ostensibly self made improvised seal and/or stamp rather than a seal and/or stamp approved by the Nigeria Bar Association.
“Regardless of his acted in a private capacity for private member(s) of the public in respect of the land, the subject matter in Suit No: B/211/2023 between: OSEMWINGIE ERO & ANOTHER V. EDO STATE GOVERNMENT & 7 OTHERS, and wherein UBTH is the 7th defendant, proceeded to settle and file anpleadings and other court processes to wit; a statement of defence and a Notice of Preliminary Objection for and on behalf of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital-the 7th defendant in his capacity as counsel representing the 7th defendant. Copies of court processes signed by him are attached as ANNEXURES 10
“As a civil servant that they are and some of their co – travellers, we consider these rather reprehensible actions as a barefaced betrayal of public trust, official corruption and abuse of office.
“We on the strength of the foregoing call on your good office to invoke you powers backed by law to descend on MRS. CHRISTABEL ITOHAN OSAWARU OLUKU and Barr. Uyi Okhiria who are both staffs of the legal unit of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH); Mr. Abu Jeremiah and Mr. Sylvester Ineyen who are staffs of the Federal Ministry of Lands and Housing (Benin Zone)”, the petitioners stated.
Messages and calls made to the Honourable Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ahmed Musa Dangiwa were not responded to at the time of filing this report.
