By Godwin Oghre

Sapele —The family of late Chief Umukoro Oghenemowho, popularly called Chief Mukoro Mowoe, has raised alarm over what it described as forceful and unlawful seizing of its over five acres of land, situate at the Sapele toll gate, which is part of an expanse of land measuring 50.952 hectares, called Okufuoma, in Okirighwre-Sapele, Delta State.

The land was bequeathed to the family by their father, late Chief Mukoro Mowoe.

Raising the alarm through their lawyer, Mr Humphrey Mowoe, and spokesman, Pa Joseph Mowoe, they said: “On January 11, 2015, a member of Delta State House of Assembly trespassed on the said piece of land and completely broke down our late father’s camp (house) which he built in the 40s, and which was one of the existing legacies he bequeathed to us.

THE LAND ALLEGEDLY SEIZED BY POLITICIANS

“From that moment, he had forcefully taken possession of the land and has since that time, sublet it to the Delta State Government, and the government is currently using it as a site in the ongoing dual road project in Sapele.”

Meanwhile, when this reporter visited the site to ascertain the position of things, he was given a hot chase by five persons suspected to be thugs, who positioned themselves in strategic positions on the land. They chased this reporter with an ash colour Audi 80 car until he escaped through the Sapele police station.

Police decline to intervene
A septuagenarian member of the family, Pa Alfred Mowoe, who arrived earlier at the police station and had sought the intervention of the police in Sapele Divisional Police headquarters was told by the DPO, Mr M. Gado, to go back, saying that the matter was a civil one, urging the family to approach the law court for reprieve. When this reporter contacted the DPO, he maintained the same position.

Vanguard investigation revealed that the property is about five acres, and is part of 50.952 hecters, about 125.9 acres of land, all of which is covered by survey plan no. SA.C 74 dated 12/8/65 (Delta Province, Urhobo Division) and another recent survey plan number DD/DT/029B/05, dated 6/2/2005 and two purchase agreements which formalized the two purchases made at two separate times, dated March 5, 1941 and February 7, 1942 respectively.

Meantime, Pa Alfred Mowoe has called on the current leadership of the Urhobo Progress Union to prevail on the Itsekiri born billionaire politician to stop further assault on prominent members of the family.

Court processes
In the native court in 1939, the Amukpe community had laid claim to the Okufuoma land, the court ruled in favour of Nmasimone Akpoisi, saying: “Nmasimone is the absolute owner of the land of Okufuoma as against the plaintiff claim that it belonged to the Amukpe community.

PA ALFRED MUKORO

“The lands in Amukpe belong to the community but individuals or family have absolute and inalienable right over the portion or village they occupy.”
Chief Mukoro Mowoe, who bought the land from the Akpoisi family, was then vindicated.

Again, in 1975, the Amukpe people took the Mowoes to court to reclaim the land in suit number S/44/75. The case was struck out in 1979, because all those who represented Amukpe in the case had died, and in 1984, when the Amukpe people again went to court against the Mowoe in suit number S/40/84, the court ruled that “Facts are overwhelmingly in favour of the defendants (Mowoes) and it is unnecessary to go further into legal technicalities. The plaintiffs (Amukpe people) case is and hereby dismissed.”

In 2004, when the Akpoisi family reportedly turned around and began to encroach on the same land they had sold to the Mowoes, the later dragged them to court. In the suit no. S/41/2004, the court ruled in favour of the plaintiffs (Mowoes) as follows: “The court hereby declares that the plaintiffs (Mowoes) are entitled to a Certificate of Occupancy (CofO) over that piece of land situate at Okufuoma, verged pink on plan number DD/DT/209B/05 and measuring 50.952 Hectares.”

Tenant commits suicide
The caretaker of the property, before it was broken down, Mr Joe Anuta, told this reporter that there were seven tenants in the property, adding: “When the politician started threatening, one of us, the oldest tenant committed suicide on hearing that the building would soon be demolished. Now the building has actually been demolished. His corpse was taken to somewhere in Imo State where he hailed from and where he has since been buried by his family.”

Reactions
Reacting to the incident, the septuagenarian spokesman of Sapele Okpe community, Dr Vincent Ekariko, who is not apparently happy with the development, said: “It is very unfortunate that some little boy, because they have money, think they can oppress the elders.

“Who does not know Mukoro Mowoe in the whole of the state? Everyone knows that, that the land called Okufuoma belongs to him. He has a camp there.”

A youth leader in the area, Felix Oborodowan, said: “Those who are grabbing land in Sapele and environs are not Sapele Okpe people or youths. We do not fight or wage war against ourselves or strangers. We are peaceful people. We want development in Sapele and environs.”

The politician denies allegation
Contacted, the politician denied the allegation of forcefully seizing the said piece of land, saying: “That information (that he seized the land by force) is not true. I bought the land and I know who I bought it from. I have all my documents intact. I can present the documents anytime any day anywhere. If they (the Mukoro Mowoes) say they bought the land, then it means that I bought it before them, therefore, the land is mine.”