…Ike Obinna, Asaba

The people of Ogbeozoma community, Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, have appealed to Senator Ned Nwoko, representing Delta South Senatorial District, to stop misleading the public with his claims of intervening in the land dispute between Akpoma and Ogbeozoma communities.

The community urged the Senator to stop deceiving the public with his claims of intervention as the matter is already before the courts.

They stated this in a letter to Senator Nwoko, signed by its lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, titled ‘Re: Delta Senator, Ned Nwoko Prevails in Land Dispute Between Akpoma and Ogbeozoma Communities: Request to Refrain from further misleading and contemptuous publication with Respect to Above Subject’.

The community noted that there are two subsisting pending court cases before the Delta State High Court involving the parties Nwoko purportedly presides over and that proceedings have fully commenced.

They asked the Senator to note that there are two subsisting pending court cases before the Delta State High Court; wherein the persons he purported to be presiding over a meeting at their interest, are all active parties; and wherein proceedings had fully commenced.

The letter read partly, “We are Solicitors to the Ogbeozoma community, hereinafter referred to as ‘Our Client’, and on whose behalf and definite instruction, we respectfully wish to issue the following clarification and respectfully request that you refrain from further misleading the general public regarding your purported intervention in the aforementioned matter.

“Ogbeozoma Community(our client) is in Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.

“Without prejudice to series of subsisting litigations pending before courts of competent jurisdiction, which are all extantly challenging seeming acts of trespass by those you have shown to be advocating their overt interest; it is important to clarify the situation for discerning members of the public, particularly unsuspecting vendors and buyers, who may be misled by the said media outing into transacting on any part of our client’s land.

“The distinguished Senator, is respectfully invited to note the following: There are two subsisting pending court cases before the Delta State High Court; wherein the persons you purport to be presiding over a meeting at their interest, are all active parties; and wherein proceedings had fully commenced.

“They are: I. OBI DR. VICTOR NWOKOBIA & 2ORS (for themselves and as representing members of Ogbeozoma Community of Okpanam) V. MR. AGBA ARINZE & 2ORS (for themselves and as representing members of Akpoma Quarters of Iselle-Azagba) in Suit No: HCI/23/2021, Holding before Iselle-Uku Judicial Division, Onicha-Ugbo, Delta State.

“II. EKWE OGIDI INTEGRATED RESOURCES LTD V. FRED AJUDUAH & 5 ORS, also pending before the same court at the same Judicial Division in Suit No: HCI/6/2024.

“In May 2024, our client’s community was invaded at the wee hours of the night by deadly thugs, which investigation later revealed, were procured by Mr. Chinedu Okeke alias Ekwe Ogidi. During this unprovoked bloody attack on our client’s peaceful community, four able bodies young men were gruesomely murdered by the invading assailants. Today, the corpses of these young men are still deposited in the mortuary while the Police investigation is expeditiously going on. They have not been buried to date.

“While investigations into the bloody attack on our client’s peaceful community which resulted in the murder of these innocent citizens were going on; a publication dated 9th July 2024 in the “POINTER” Newspapers, was attributed to your office, to which our client had since published a rejoinder to the apparent falsehood conveyed through the insidious publication. Our client’s rejoinder further requested your distinguished office to refrain from misleading the general public.

“Specifically, on the 22nd day of July 2024, Mr. Chinedu Okeke alias Ekwe Ogidi procured and led another gang of thugs heavily armed to the teeth with all forms of prohibited firearms, and consequently invaded our client’s community, at the wee hours of the night. The thugs ably led by Mr. Chinedu Okeke alias Ekwe Ogidi, laid siege on our client’s community from about 1:00 am till 3:30 am and consequently unleashed devastating havoc/mayhem on our client’s community, as properties worth billions of naira were destroyed. However, luck ran out for some of the invading criminal gang members, as the personal driver to Ekwe Ogidi and his personal assistant were apprehended along with two Hilux vans and a caterpillar they procured for their destructive mission. The Policemen responding to our client’s SOS arrested three other men in police uniforms who were among the invading gang and were fully kitted in police uniforms and heavily armed with AK-47s.

“It will interest the Distinguished Senator to note that one of the Policemen who gallantly came on the rescue mission, was fatally shot by the Ekwe Ogidi-led gang and the young man is still battling for survival in an undisclosed hospital in Asaba. Thankfully, in response to our petition, the Inspector General of Police has directed for an immediate investigation of this dastardly act, and investigation is currently ongoing, as Ekwe Ogidi’s personal driver and others so far arrested have made useful statements to the Police on the activities of the gangs led by Ekwe Ogidi.”

It further said, “In view of the heinous activities of Ekwe Ogidi and his gangs above highlighted, our client was therefore taken aback by the publication under reference dated 6th August 2024. In as much as our client may carefully wish to avoid interpreting the said publication as a clear ploy to derail the Police investigation into the activities of Mr. Chinedu Okeke who had since shunned several invitations, or an act of manifest shielding of an offender(s); it is their respectful request that you should not be involved in a conspiracy capable of interfering with legitimate Police investigations.

“The Distinguished Senator is to note further that on the intervention of the Executive Governor of Delta State, a Committee headed by the Deputy Governor was set up to mediate in the land dispute between our client and Iselle-Azagba Quarters.

“Notwithstanding this commendable intervention by His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oboreveori, which is progressively yielding the desired results; Mr. Chinedu Okeke in clear desecration and disregard to the authority of the State Governor, continued to unleash terror on our client’s peaceful community.

“May the Distinguished Senator be reminded that the above Committee set up by the Executive Governor of Delta State, to mediate the land dispute between our client and Iselle-Azagba Quarters, is the only Committee known to our client with the authority of the State and permission of the court to intervene in the matter. Your purported Committee is unknown to our client and exists only on the pages of newspapers and the imagination of Ekwe Ogidi who is presently desperately seeking a safe haven in your abode. The Distinguished Senator should appropriately counsel Mr. Chinedu Okeke, on the need to immediately turn himself in, to the Police to clear the allegations against him, which border on serious and heinous crimes.”

According to the letter, the community’s prayers and conclusion are as follows:

“Our client reiterates their firm belief in the Rule of Law and confidence in the state’s authority to arrive at a just resolution of issues in dispute, otherwise, the court will proceed with the hearing of the cases.

“Investigation by the Police on the gruesome murders of four young men, the brutal shooting of our client’s youth leader in the person of Mr. Chinedu Ofuani, an indigene of Ogbeozoma, and the fatal shooting of a Police Sergent should be allowed to proceed uninterrupted, as the offences being investigated border on heinous crimes of capital punishment.

“It is against the backdrop of the foregoing serious situation, that we most respectfully urge you, Sir, to refrain from further engaging in misleading publications capable of portraying your esteemed office in a bad light and projecting you as among those who are promoting the nefarious activities of Mr. Chinedu Okeke alias Ekwe Ogidi, in our client’s community.

“In anticipation of your cooperation in this regard, may the Distinguished Senator accept the assurances of our deepest regards.”