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Delta State Government has constituted a Commission of Inquiry to look into the land and security issues within Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom.
This stems from the problems the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku and other community members identified regarding the security challenges and land issues.
The Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr Kingsley Emu, said in a statement on Thursday, 2nd of October, that the 7-man Commission of Inquiry, with Hon. Justice E.N. Emudaino as chairman, will be sworn in at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 7, 2024.
Members of the Commission are Dr. (Mrs) Ajoritsedere Josephine Awosika; Dr. (Pharm) Paul Enebeli; Prof Andrew Onokerhoraye; DCP Charles Dike, Deputy Commissioner of Police Delta State Command; Barr. Moses Namo, Assistant Director Department of State Services Delta State and Barr. Gabriel Ikemefuna Eze-Owenz, Director (Advisory Services) Ministry of Justice.
In the interim, the government has requested that the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku take direct control of all boundary and satellite communities until the judicial commission completes its work within sixty days.
The directive would affect the Okwabani’s who are Chiefs in the satellite communities as the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku would have to take direct control of those communities.
Commenting on the development, the Palace Secretary to the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku Prince Ifeakanachukwu Emordi welcomed the decision of the Delta State government and assured the governor of his full support to ensure the implementation of the decision.
The Palace Secretary warned all parties to stay away from land grabbing and stated that anyone who caused problems would be referred immediately to the police for investigation and prosecution.
Another area the Judicial Commission would look into would be the contested Iyase Chieftaincy title.
The statement by the SSG Delta State reads in part below:
Delta State Security Council at its recent meeting deliberated extensively on several security reports bordering on kingship and land ownership tussles within Ogwashi-Uku Kingdom and its neighbouring Communities, which had led to series of attacks and counter-attacks resulting in the loss of lives and properties.
Having conducted investigations into the cause(s) of the disputes and interfaced with contending parties and stakeholders, the State Security Council has resolved upon the need for an unbiased consideration of the underlying issues to the disputes. Consequently, His Excellency, the Governor of Delta State has constituted a Commission of Inquiry to unravel the remote and immediate causes of the crises and proffer appropriate recommendations for achieving lasting peace.
Arising from this development, the activities of all Clan Chiefs (Okwabanis) installed in the affected areas and beyond by the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku have been suspended pending the outcome of the proceedings of the Commission of Inquiry, which is composed by persons of proven integrity. For the avoidance of doubt, the affected areas include lbusa, Otulu, Ubulu-Okiti, Okpanam, Olodu, Ewulu, Azagba- Ogwashi, Aboh- Ogwashi, and Olloh- Ogwashi Communities.
The Obi of Ogwashi-Uku shall continue to administer his Kingdom with respect to all traditional matters, while the security of lives and properties would be handled by the Security Agencies.
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