By Rita Enemuru, Reporting
THE Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun, to direct that all petitions arising from the Amachai–Okpanam land dispute in Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State be handled exclusively by the Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr Aina Adesina, in the interest of professionalism and fairness.
The call was made in a statement signed by the National President of CDHR, Dr Kehinde Taiga, and made available to journalists. The rights group condemned alleged acts of land grabbing, contempt of court and the purported misuse of security agencies to intimidate or dispossess communities of their ancestral lands, describing such actions as inimical to democracy, the rule of law and social stability.
CDHR warned that land grabbers must not be allowed to provoke violence, sow division or undermine judicial authority in Amachai Community or anywhere else in Nigeria, stressing its commitment to the protection of fundamental human rights, the independence of the judiciary, and the preservation of peace, justice and constitutional order across the country.
The organisation stated that Amachai Community is made up of four families—Umuezegbe, Umuezenzuo, Umugbala and Umurie—and has, for generations, operated under a recognised traditional governance structure in which communal land is held in trust by the Diokpa, the eldest person among the four families, in accordance with customary law. It added that the alleged violations of the rule of law have not only threatened public peace and undermined judicial authority but also infringed upon the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the people.
According to the statement, “The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), Nigeria, expresses grave concern over the escalating tension and persistent violations of the rule of law arising from the protracted land dispute involving the Amachai Community of Okpanam, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, which is presently pending before courts of competent jurisdiction in Delta State.
“Court proceedings arising from internal disagreements within the community date back to 2012.
Judgements delivered by Justice M. C. Okoh at the Akwukwu-Igbo High Court of Justice did not vest ownership or possession of the land in any faction referred to as Amachai Group A or B, but rather affirmed custodianship in the Diokpa, in line with established custom and governance structure. At no time did any court lawfully transfer the land to any external individual or corporate entity.”
The group further alleged that certain writs of possession were obtained from another court without recourse to the Akwukwu-Igbo High Court, which delivered the substantive judgement. It described the alleged action as constituting forgery and the uttering of forged documents—criminal offences under Nigerian law—as well as a gross abuse of court process and contempt of court, particularly where such documents are used to undermine subsisting proceedings.
“CDHR unequivocally condemns reported attempts to enforce possession in defiance of subsisting court orders, allegedly with the presence and support of police and military personnel. Such actions, if established, amount to contempt of court and a direct assault on the independence of the judiciary,” the statement added.
The rights group also urged the police to refrain from arresting, detaining or harassing any community member on the basis of unsubstantiated or malicious allegations linked to land ownership. It called on the police to ensure strict compliance with all subsisting court orders and injunctions, and to sanction any officer found to have acted outside the law or in furtherance of land grabbing.
Dr Taiga further called for the immediate cessation of all acts of intimidation, harassment, trespass or force in Amachai Community; respect for and enforcement of all subsisting court orders and injunctions; objective, professional and impartial investigation of any genuine criminal complaints, if any exist; the total withdrawal of police and military personnel from land possession activities; and good-faith dialogue and reconciliation led by community elders and relevant stakeholders.
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