By Rita Oyiboka
More than 300 property owners affected by the demolition of buildings at Parkview Estates, Anwai, in Asaba, have appealed to Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori, to intervene in the lingering land dispute involving the estate and Dennis Osadebay University.
The affected residents, operating under the aegis of Parkview Estates, alleged that their properties were demolished on May 14, 2024, by the Delta State Taskforce on Recovery of Government Lands despite ongoing court proceedings and an alleged injunction restraining further action.
Speaking with journalists after proceedings at the High Court in Asaba, the estate’s Chairman, Chief Charles Ogbobe, described the demolition as devastating, saying it destroyed investments worth millions of naira, displaced families and subjected property owners to severe emotional and financial hardship.
Ogbobe said the disputed land, located at Anwai, formerly known as Musa Camp and subsequently renamed Ugbomanta by the Asagba of Asaba, was acquired from the Isieke community, which he claimed had documents supporting its ownership.
He explained that the dispute centred on competing ownership claims involving the community and the state-owned university. According to him, the land was originally leased to Reverend Prior, a colonial administrator, in 1953 for a 50-year period.
The estate chairman maintained that the lease expired in 2003, although another affected resident cited a different expiration date.
“We never disputed the government’s right to own land, but we asked them to provide evidence of ownership,” Ogbobe said.
He further alleged that between 12 and 13 affected residents had died since the demolition following hardship and emotional trauma.
Ogbobe disclosed that the High Court had directed the parties to produce survey plans showing the boundaries of the disputed property.
Also speaking, the estate’s Vice Chairman, Mr. Samuel Onuwa David, alleged that the demolition occurred before the expiration of a seven-day notice issued to occupants, despite attempts by residents to secure an injunction.
David said he lost a private school and a residential building, while four additional buildings belonging to his in-laws were also demolished.
He appealed to the governor to provide relief for the affected families.
“We are appealing to the governor, as a father, to come to our aid. Let him compensate us for the houses that were demolished and give us back our land,” he said.
Another affected property owner, Mr. Christian Nwaolisa, said he returned from Northern Nigeria to settle in his home state but lost his residence despite obtaining a Certificate of Occupancy and building approval before construction.
Similarly, Mr. Chuks Okei said he purchased his land from the community, conducted a survey and obtained government building approval before commencing construction in 2020. He said he spent approximately three years developing the property before it was demolished.
The affected property owners called on Governor Oborevwori to investigate the circumstances surrounding the demolition, address their grievances and ensure that justice is served.
They also urged the relevant authorities to resolve the ownership dispute through the judicial process and consider compensation for those whose properties were destroyed.