News
Police Commissioner Lands In Jail Over Land Dispute
A Bayelsa State High Court sitting in Yenagoa has sentenced the state’s Commissioner of Police to prison for failing to comply with a court order concerning a long-standing land dispute.
The legal battle dates back to a judgment delivered on November 26, 2016, in Suit No. YHC/210/2014, which was later upheld by the Court of Appeal in case CA/PH/170/2018. Despite these rulings, the Commissioner of Police allegedly disregarded the court’s directive, prompting the recent sentencing.
At the heart of the conflict is a parcel of land in Asam, Yenagoa, which currently serves as the operational base for Operation Doo-Akpo, a state-owned security outfit. The courts have ruled in favor of nine families from the Yenizue-gene Community, including the Fabiri, Ayoko, Aku, Ugbon, Obediah, Sampson, and Boye families, affirming their ownership rights.
Despite these judicial decisions, the police have reportedly refused to vacate the land, leading to legal action from the rightful owners.
Speaking at a press briefing, the lead counsel for the claimants, Ukunbiriowei Saiyou, confirmed that Justice R. Ajuwa issued the imprisonment order against the Commissioner of Police on December 27, 2024.
Saiyou explained that the claimants initiated committal proceedings in 2022 due to the Commissioner’s persistent refusal to comply with multiple court rulings.
“The police have failed to appear before the court or challenge the various decisions, leaving us no choice but to seek enforcement,” Saiyou stated.
Following the sentencing, there have been calls for the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to intervene and ensure the enforcement of the judgments, particularly the Court of Appeal ruling from June 10, 2021.
Saiyou warned that if the IGP does not act swiftly, it could result in the arrest of the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Police.
He further revealed that since Saipem vacated the disputed land along Elebele-Opolo Road, the police and Operation Doo-Akpo have been occupying the area illegally, without the consent of the rightful landowners.
Representatives of the affected families, Chief Honest Boye Wilson and Hon. Manager Fabiri, voiced their frustration over the prolonged occupation of their land by the police. Despite their grievances, they reassured the public that they would continue to seek justice through legal means rather than resorting to public demonstrations against the government or security agencies.
“The Bayelsa State High Court ruled in our favor, and the Court of Appeal reaffirmed that ruling. Yet, the police remain on our land unlawfully,” Fabiri emphasized.
As the situation unfolds, all eyes are on law enforcement authorities to see if they will comply with the court orders or face further legal consequences.
The communities came under simultaneous attacks just a day after the killing of 11 persons at Otobi Community also in Otukpo LGA.
Benue has in the past decade experienced incessant attacks.
Suspected herdsmen have again stepped up violent attacks as no fewer than three communities in the Otukpo Local Government Area (LGA) of Benue State were attacked on Wednesday.
The communities affected during the fresh attacks include Emichi, Odudaje, and Okpamaju all in Otukpo where five persons were killed in February. The communities came under simultaneous attacks just a day after the killing of 11 persons at Otobi Community also in Otukpo LGA.
Local sources confirm that several people may have been feared dead again in the fresh attack.
Wednesday’s attack came hours after Governor Hyacinth Alia confirmed the arrest of three suspected herders in connection with the invasion of Otobi village on Tuesday night.
When contacted, Otukpo LGA Chairman, Maxwell Ogiri, confirmed the attack on the three communities, saying that the attackers stormed the communities at the time when the Commissioner of Police was still at the Ochidoma Palace over the previous day’s attack on Otobi.
He added that three people sustained injury in the attacks on the three communities, leading to women and children abandoning the communities for fear of being killed.
“Only young men were in the communities when the attackers arrived. The prompt response from combined security operatives made the attackers flee and none of them were arrested,” Ogiri stated.
The police spokesperson in the state, Sewuese Anene, was yet to confirm details of the attacks on the three communities.
The 2023 Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has hailed the Northern Traditional Rulers for taking bold steps on the menacing security challenges in the region and in the country.
Obi, who was reacting to the ‘Enough is Enough’ declaration of the royal fathers on the security situation, said that their courageous steps are needed to find a lasting solution to the menace.
Writing on his X handle, Obi said “I would like to sincerely thank the Northern Traditional Rulers for their courageous and timely emergency declaration of the security situation in the region. I cannot agree less with them that “Enough is Enough” regarding the persistent killings and insecurity plaguing our nation.
“Their collective voice, as reported, underscores the urgent need for decisive action to protect lives and restore peace in our communities.
“I urge governments at all levels to work closely with these royal fathers who are closest to the people at the grassroots. Their commitment to addressing these challenges and offering counsel to regional governors reflects true leadership and a deep concern for the well-being of their communities.
“The stance of the Northern Traditional Rulers serves as a clarion call to all stakeholders. We must unite, irrespective of political affiliations, to implement lasting solutions that address the root causes of our nation’s challenges.
“Let us work together to build a Nigeria where every citizen feels safe, valued, and empowered.
By Emmanuel Agaji
The Rivers State High Court Chief Registrar, David D Thua-Maduenyi has rubbished speculations suggesting that Rivers Sole Administrator has been removed by the state’s High Court.
Naijablitznews reports this was contained in a statement personally signed by the Chief Registrar saying:
“My attention has been drawn to an online news report with the caption “BREAKING
NEWS: Governor Sim Fubara secures Court victory over Wike and Tinubu –
Federal High Court Orders Sole Administrator to vacate Government House”,
authored by one Joy Musa published by 247 ureports on Tuesday, 15th April, 2025.
“Ordinarily, I would not have bothered myself with any refutal, but for the
mischievous mention of the name of Hon. Justice Boma Diepriye which appears
synonymous with Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri of the Rivers State High Court in
paragraph 4 of the report thus:
“Justice Boma Diepriye, who presided over the case, ruled that the
appointment of a sole administrator to oversee the affairs of a state with
a sitting, democratically elected governor is “illegal, null and void…”
“In view of the above, I wish to state as follows:
Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri is not a Judge of the Federal High Court but a
Judge of the Rivers State High Court, and is already on Easter Vacation,
which commenced on Monday, 14th April, 2025.
“For the period of the Easter Vacation, only the vacation Judge is sitting:
and Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri is not the Vacation Judge.
“The mention of the name of Hon. Justice Boma Diepriye which is similar
with Hon. Justice Boma Diepiri of the Rivers State High Court is not only
false, but misleading, and clearly exposes the crass ignorance of the
reporter; as the Federal High Court is different from Rivers State High
Court.
“No State High Court gave any order(s) relating to or concerning the
subject matter as captioned in the online news.
“It is regrettable that some bloggers and online news reporters have traded
professionalism on the altar of pecuniary gains they seek to derive from traffic on
their social media handle and web pages.
“Henceforth, the Judiciary enjoins the general public to seek clarification on any
news report concerning the Court and official of the Court before publication.
“The general public is advised to clearly ignore the false and misleading publication.
-
News21 hours agoPDP governors declare support for Tinubu
-
News22 hours agoHope for Nigerians as Dangote refinery slashes petrol price again
-
News24 hours agoFubara: How can I forgive somebody who never requested for it– Wike
-
News22 hours agoRivers Emergency Rule: Abbas inaugurates 21-member panel
-
News23 hours agoPeter Obi asks president Tinubu to suspend France trip
-
News21 hours agoN1.3trn CBEX Scam: EFCC caution Nigerians against Ponzi Schemes
-
News8 hours agoFG expresses sympathy for CBEX victims, urges a united effort to combat Ponzi schemes
-
News23 hours agoINEC chair, Yakubu calls on African youths to promote peaceful elections