Delta Community Rejects Ned Nwoko’s Intervention In Land Dispute

Indigenes of Ogbeozoma community, Okpanam in Oshimili North Local Government Area, have warned Senator Ned Nwoko, who represents Delta North Senatorial District in the National Assembly, to stay away from their land dispute with the people of Akpoma, claiming that his alleged intervention is laced with mischief.

They asked that he refrain from further misleading and derogatory reporting on the subject.

Ifeanyi Ejiofor, the community’s lawyer and lead counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), made the demands in a letter to Ned Nwoko, which journalists in Abuja obtained.

He stated, “We are Solicitors to the Ogbeozoma community, hereinafter referred to as “Our Client,” and on their 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.

Background:

“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 representatives of the Okpanam Ogbeozoma Community) v. MR. AGBA ARINZE & 2ORS (for themselves and as representatives of the Akpoma Quarters of Iselle-Azagba) in Suit No: HCI/23/2021, held before the Iselle-Uku Judicial Division, Onicha-Ugbo, Delta State.

II. EKWE OGIDI INTEGRATED RESOURCES LTD V. FRED AJUDUAH & 5 ORS, also pending in the same court and 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 hired by Mr. Chinedu Okeke, alias Ekwe Ogidi, according to an investigation. During this unprovoked bloody attack on our client’s peaceful community, the invading assailants brutally murdered four able-bodied young men. Today, the bodies of these young men remain in the mortuary while the police investigate. They have not been buried yet.

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

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

“It will interest the Distinguished Senator to know that one of the police officers who bravely came on the rescue mission was fatally shot by the Ekwe Ogidi-led gang, and the young man is still fighting for his life in an undisclosed hospital in Asaba.”
Thankfully, in response to our petition, the Inspector General of Police has ordered an immediate investigation into this heinous act, and the investigation is still ongoing, as Ekwe Ogidi’s personal driver and others arrested have provided useful information to the police about the activities of the gangs led by Ekwe Ogidi.

“Given the heinous activities of Ekwe Ogidi and his gangs as described above, our client was taken aback by the publication under reference dated August 6, 2024. As much as our client may wish to avoid interpreting the aforementioned publication as a clear ploy to derail the Police investigation into the activities of Mr. Chinedu Okeke, who has since declined several invitations, or as an act of manifest shielding of an offender(s), it is their respectful request that you not be involved in a conspiracy capable of interfering with legitimate police investigations.

“The Distinguished Senator should also be aware that, following the intervention of Delta State’s Executive Governor, a committee chaired by the Deputy Governor was formed to mediate the land dispute between our client and Iselle-Azagba Quarters. Despite His Excellency Rt. Hon. Sheriff Francis Oboreveori’s commendable intervention, which is gradually yielding the desired results, Mr. Chinedu Okeke continued to unleash terror on our client’s peaceful community, clearly disrespecting the authority of the State Governor.

“May the Distinguished Senator be reminded that the above Committee, appointed 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 to have the authority of the State and the court’s permission to intervene in the matter. Your alleged Committee is unknown to our client and only exists in the pages of newspapers and the imagination of Ekwe Ogidi, who is currently desperate for a safe haven in your residence.

“The Distinguished Senator should advise Mr. Chinedu Okeke to immediately turn himself in to the police in order to clear his name of the serious and heinous allegations levelled against him.”

Prayers and Conclusions:

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

“The police investigation into the gruesome murders of four young men, the brutal shooting of our client’s youth leader, Mr. Chinedu Ofuani, an Ogbeozoma indigene, and the fatal shooting of a Police Sergent, should be allowed to continue indefinitely, as the offences being investigated border on heinous crimes punishable by death.

“Against the backdrop of the foregoing serious situation, we most respectfully urge you, Sir, to refrain from further engaging in misleading publications capable of portraying your esteemed office in a negative light and projecting you as one of those 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 our heartfelt wishes.”