The Judicial Panel of Inquiry into the kingship and land disputes within Ogwashi-Uku and the neighboring communities has barred persons other than Journalists from video recording the proceedings of the Panel.
The Chairman of the Commission, Justice Ejiro Emudianowho gave the order on Thursday at the third sitting of the Panel at Government House, Asaba.
During the sitting, the immediate past President-General of the Ogwashi-Uku Development Association (ODA), the apex socioeconomic organisation of the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom, Mr Ashinze Ndikanwu, gave oral evidence in support of ODA’s petition against Obi Aninshi Okonjo
Led in evidence by the organisation’s Counsel, Prof. Oludayo Amokaye, Mr Ndikanwu accused the Obi of outright disrespect for the custom and tradition of Ogwashi-Uku with regards to conferment of chieftaincy titles, adding that the Obi arrogated to himself the right to control and sell lands with impunity, which he said was the major cause of disputes in the community
The ODA ex-PG alluded to a petition by the Azungu community detailing the non compliance with due process in the conferment of the Odogwu title, alleging that the nominee of the community was rejected by the Obi, who single-handedly installed an Odogwu contrary to the norm that the nominee must be selected by the eldest man in the community and presented to the Obi for chalking.
During cross examination by the Counsel to the Obi, H. T. Ogidi, Ndikanwu said he had the consent of the association to represent it at the Panel, explaining that as the apex sociocultural body, the various communities in the Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom related with the organisation on issues of common interest.
On its part, the Asagba Ogwashi community, represented by one Ernest Ikechukwu, made a written deposition on oath detailing the petition against the Obi.
Led in evidence by Counsel to the Asagba Ogwashi community, Kingsley Obamogie, SAN, the witness lamented that the community’s land along the Polytechnic road had been taken over by the Obi by virtue of the land tenor system, which conferred the right of ownership on him.
He alleged that most of the properties being developed by the rightful owners of the land had been brought down on the orders of the Obi and urged the Panel to redress the issue
Similar petitions from Agidiahe, Isa Ogwashi and Ubulu-Okiti were also heard by the Commission and they all bordered on alleged land grabbing by Obi Okonjo.
