CDHR urges IGP to centralise Amachai land dispute petitions with Delta CP

EBENEZER ADUROKIYA, Warri

The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has called on the Inspector-General of Police, 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.

The committee said it was in the interest of fairness and professionalism.

The call was contained in a statement signed by the CDHR National President, Dr Kehinde Taiga, and made available to journalists.

The rights group condemned alleged land grabbing, contempt of court and the purported misuse of security agencies to intimidate or dispossess communities of their ancestral lands, describing such acts as inimical to democracy, the rule of law and social stability.

The organisation warned that land grabbers must not be allowed to provoke violence, sow division or undermine judicial authority in Amachai Community or elsewhere 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.

According to the CDHR, Amachai Community is made up of four families—Umuezegbe, Umuezenzuo, Umugbala and Umurie—and has, for generations, operated a recognised traditional governance system under which communal land is held in trust by the Diokpa, the eldest person among the four families, in line with customary law.

The group said the alleged violations of the rule of law have not only threatened public peace and undermined judicial authority but also infringed on the constitutionally guaranteed rights of the people.

“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 the state,”.

The statement read.
The group recalled that court proceedings arising from internal disagreements within the community date back to 2012, noting that judgements delivered by Justice M. C. Okoh of the Akwukwu-Igbo High Court of Justice did not vest ownership or possession of the disputed land in any faction described as Amachai Group A or B.

Rather, the court affirmed custodianship of the land in the Diokpa, in accordance with established custom and governance structure.

The CDHR stressed that at no time did any court lawfully transfer the land to any external individual or corporate entity.

It 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, describing the action as forgery and uttering of forged documents—criminal offences under Nigerian law—as well as a gross abuse of court process and contempt of court.

“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 group stated.

The human rights body also urged the police not to arrest, detain or harass any community member on the basis of unsubstantiated or malicious allegations connected to land ownership.

It called on the police hierarchy 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 use of force in Amachai Community, the respect and enforcement of existing court orders, objective and impartial investigation of any genuine criminal complaints, and the total withdrawal of police and military personnel from land possession activities.

He also advocated good-faith dialogue and reconciliation led by community elders and other relevant stakeholders to restore peace in the area.