By Francis Onoiribholo - Bureau Chief Benin
Diocese of Esan, Anglican Communion has taken the Onojie of Uromi, Anslem Eidenogie, before a state High Court sitting in Uromi, Esan North East Local Government Area of Edo State for alleged trespass on a land said to belong to the church.
The church, through its counsel, G. O. Giwa-Amu, in suit number, HCU/1/2014, is praying the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the monarch, his servants, agents or privies from entering and /or in anyway trespassing and interfering with the claimant’s entire land in dispute.
It is also demanding the sum of N5 million as damages for the trespass on the land, measuring 3735.678 square meters, situated along the junction of Uromi/Ubiaja Road and Ojomon Street, Uromi.
It would be recalled that one Gregory Okpere had laid claim to the same land, leading to a court action, at the end of which judgment was delivered in the claimant’s favour, by Justice D. I.Okungbowa on October 17, 2006.
The church, in its Statement of Claim brought before the court by its counsel, averred that vide a customary grant by Ogbidi, the then Onojie of Uromi, (great grandfather of the defendant), and the entire Uromi Community in 1930 to the church, then known as Church Missionary Society (C.M.S).
It added that as at the time of the grant, the defendant’s predecessor, Ogbidi, was a regular member of the church, and contributed financially to the building of the church, Saint Paul’s Anglican Church, presently on the other part of the land.
The claimant alleged that the defendant without its permission, on January 2, 2014, brought in traitors and commenced building of commercial stores on the said land, adding that defendant was aware of the judgment of the suit between Gregory Okpere and the church, having mediated in the dispute.