Search for an article

Select a plan

Choose a plan from below, subscribe, and get access to our exclusive articles!

Monthly plan

$
13
$
0
billed monthly

Yearly plan

$
100
$
0
billed yearly

All plans include

  • Donec sagittis elementum
  • Cras tempor massa
  • Mauris eget nulla ut
  • Maecenas nec mollis
  • Donec feugiat rhoncus
  • Sed tristique laoreet
  • Fusce luctus quis urna
  • In eu nulla vehicula
  • Duis eu luctus metus
  • Maecenas consectetur
  • Vivamus mauris purus
  • Aenean neque ipsum
HomeNewsBREAKING: Another heavy blow for Obaseki as Court upholds Ize-Iyamu's land rights

BREAKING: Another heavy blow for Obaseki as Court upholds Ize-Iyamu’s land rights

*Reverses revocation of the ex-governorship candidate's C of O, awards N5m in damages

Published on

spot_img

In a significant legal victory, the High Court of Justice in Benin has ruled in favour of Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, a former governorship candidate and his company I.O. Farms in a high-stakes land dispute with the Edo State Government and its Governor, Godwin Obaseki.

*The court’s judgment, delivered in suit number 8/637/2021, centered on the defendants’ purported revocation of the claimants’ right of occupancy to a parcel of land located in Amagba Village, Benin City.*

After carefully examining the case, the court unequivocally sided with Pastor Ize-Iyamu, declaring the revocation as unconstitutional, illegal, and invalid.

The landmark ruling highlighted several key legal violations by the Edo State Government. First, the court stated that the governor’s revocation of the claimants’ land rights failed to adhere to the due process mandated by Section 28 of the Land Use Act of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The defendants were found to have disregarded the proper procedures required when revoking land for “overriding public interest.”

Furthermore, the court granted a perpetual injunction, restraining the defendants and their agents from encroaching on the disputed land. This decisive move ensures that Pastor Ize-Iyamu and I.O. Farms retain full and unhindered rights to the property.

In addition to restoring the claimants’ land rights, the court awarded substantial damages. Pastor Ize-Iyamu and I.O. Farms were granted ₦5 million in general damages, as well as ₦200,000 in legal costs, to compensate for the trespass committed by the defendants.

This victory holds significant implications, not only for Pastor Ize-Iyamu but also for the broader issue of land ownership rights in Nigeria. The court’s ruling reinforces the importance of adhering to the Land Use Act and the due process required when government authorities seek to revoke land rights, even for purported public interest purposes.

READ ALSO: BREAKING! Yahaya Bello faces fresh 16-count charge over alleged N110bn fraud

Residents of Edo State have reacted with a mix of shock and outrage, particularly in light of reports that the outgoing Governor Godwin Obaseki has also revoked the certificate of occupancy of a late Benin billionaire, Captain Hosa Okunbor’s farmland. Many have decried these actions as “extraordinary wickedness” and a continuation of the governor’s perceived vendetta against his political opponents.

For Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu, this legal victory represents a significant triumph, not only in the immediate dispute but also in upholding the integrity of the judiciary and the rule of law. The High Court’s ruling serves as a testament to the importance of persevering in the pursuit of justice, even in the face of powerful adversaries.

Kindly share this story:

Contact: editor@thereporterng.com

Stay informed!
Follow us on: X.com: @TheReporter2024
Follow us on: Facebook: TheReporterNigeria
WhatsApp for breaking news, updates and exclusive content. Don't miss a headline – Click below to join now!
WHATSAPP

Latest articles

Police nab woman for abandoning a day-old baby in Abuja

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),  has detained a woman for...

Cooperative society to establish cattle ranches in 774 LGAs -– President

The National Agricultural Mechanisation Cooperative of Nigeria (NAMCON), says it plans to establish cattle...

Why we increased onions price — Farmers

The Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria has explained reasons for the...

MURIC condemns death threat, cyberbullying against US-based Nigerian Muslim lady    

A US-based Nigerian Muslim lady, Shakirat Oluwatosin Raji, is currently being targeted for cyber...

More like this

Police nab woman for abandoning a day-old baby in Abuja

The Police Command in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT),  has detained a woman for...

Cooperative society to establish cattle ranches in 774 LGAs -– President

The National Agricultural Mechanisation Cooperative of Nigeria (NAMCON), says it plans to establish cattle...

Why we increased onions price — Farmers

The Onion Producers, Processors and Marketers Association of Nigeria has explained reasons for the...