By Hugo Odiogor

Delta State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development, Chief Dan Okenyi, has debunked reports that he was convicted for contempt by a High Court sitting in Kwale for failure to release relevant land documents belonging to Umu-Okpala Omai family of Umusam community in the state.

In a statement in Asaba, yesterday, the commissioner said through his Media Aide, Mr Pius Mordi said: “The office of the Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Urban Development did not receive any summons from the Kwale High Court and is not aware of any litigation involving the said Umu-Okpala Omai family of Umusam community.

Governor Ifeanyi Okowa of Delta State

There was no legal representation from the Ministry of Lands or any agency of government in Delta State at the court for the simple reason that  no summons was received   from any community or from the Kwale High Court.

The government of Delta State has utmost respect for the judiciary and is not known to have ignored any court summon. Request for documents associated with land allocation and dispute is a routine exercise in the Ministry of Lands and it does not require the intervention of the courts for them to be released.

While the matter is now being handled by the office of the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, we reiterate that access to land documents is not shrouded in secrecy and does not require lobbying to obtain.” He said we are amazed that a suit based on the Freedom of Information Act could get to the level of judgment with no discernible proof that court summons were actually delivered to the defendants on an issue the plaintiffs have an inalienable right to access the documents they sought.”