The people of Obitugbo Community in Warri North Local Government Area say they have instructed their solicitors to commence committal proceedings against the Ovie of Oghara Kingdom and his chiefs for disobedience of a lawful Court order against them over their alleged unlawful claim of ownership of Obitugbo land.
The Management Committee at a press briefing said Obitugbo which the people of Oghara call “Otegbo” and Ajagbodudu communities in Warri North are under the overlordship rights of Ogiame Atuwatse III, the Olu of Warri.
The people of Obitugbo Community in a letter addressed to Delta State Governor, Dr Ifeanyi Okowa and read by the Chairman of the Community Management Committee, Justice Akuyoma, the community described the Oghara Traditional Council’s false claim to ownership of Obitugbo as storm in a teacup.
The community opined that the order of interlocutory injunction which they obtained against Presco Nigeria Limited and the Oghara people restraining on November 1, 2007, them from further trespass on the Obitugbo land still subsists.
While accusing the Oghara people of abandoning the appeal they lodged at the Court of Appeal after the Court granted them their application for a stay of proceedings, The people of Obitugbo Community posited that issue of ownership of land can only be determined by competent law Courts.
Accordingly, they said the site for the proposed University of Warri and other institutions in Obitugbo are on lands owned by Obitugbo Community saying the Olu of Warri has therefore done nothing wrong by consenting to the with of his subjects on land under his overlordship rights.
The people of Obitugbo Community noted that as peace-loving people it is their desire and earnest prayer for a peaceful resolution of the matter but warned that in the unfortunate event of an attack on them, they hold it a duty to defend themselves.
