The lingering land dispute in Okpanam Community, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State, has taken a fresh turn as the Amachai Community’s Group B faction has defended the controversial sale of a disputed parcel of land to MALTEK Resources Limited, insisting that the transaction was lawful, backed by valid legal documents and affirmed by court judgments.

The development follows a recent protest by members of the rival Group A faction at the Delta State Government House in Asaba, where demonstrators accused Engineer Samuel Morah of illegally taking over community land.

The Guardian had reported that some members of the same Amachai community earlier protested at the Delta State Government House, alleging that Samuel Morah had taken over their landed property.

Addressing journalists in Asaba on Thursday, leaders of Group B, alongside representatives of MALTEK Resources Limited, rejected the allegations, maintaining that the land acquisition was legitimate and consistent with judicial pronouncements that resolved the long-running dispute.

Widow of the late land vendor, Dr. (Mrs.) Florence Madu, said her husband lawfully acquired the property from Amachai Community before selling it to MALTEK Resources Limited.

According to her, efforts by the late Omu of Okpanam to reconcile the two factions resulted in a peace initiative that urged all parties to respect existing land transactions while making provisions for compensation where necessary.

She alleged, however, that despite the peace intervention, persistent attempts were made to dispossess her late husband and his associates of the property, forcing them to seek legal protection.

Mrs. Madu said the courts eventually ruled in favour of Group B, the faction that executed the land transaction with her late husband.

She further claimed that the prolonged conflict over the property had a significant emotional impact on her husband before his death.

“My husband was very transparent and always stood by the truth. But the situation made it difficult for him because of the constant conflict over the land,” she said.

She disclosed that before his death, her husband formally appointed Samuel Morah, an Engineer, through a letter of attorney to recover and develop the property on behalf of MALTEK Resources.

“I witnessed the arrangement personally. Everything was properly documented and legally sealed,” she stated, insisting that MALTEK Resources was operating within its legal rights and that all documentation supporting the transaction remained valid.

Also speaking, Samuel Morah, attorney and real estate consultant to MALTEK Resources Limited, denied allegations of land grabbing and vowed to seek legal redress against those he accused of defaming his reputation during the recent protest.

“I am going to do the needful to prosecute whoever has defamed my personality. We will follow due process. We are not going to resort to violence,” Morah said.

He explained that MALTEK Resources legitimately acquired the land from Amachai Group B following an internal community dispute that was later addressed through a peace process facilitated by traditional authorities.

According to him, the peace agreement was formalised in a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which expressly recognised all previous land transactions conducted by both factions as valid.

Morah recalled that the dispute escalated in 2012 when Group A instituted legal proceedings challenging the arrangement against Group B, rather than against MALTEK Resources.

He also referenced a public notice issued through the company’s legal representatives warning alleged trespassers to vacate the property or face legal consequences.

Rejecting claims that he unlawfully occupied community land, Morah said he was merely carrying out responsibilities assigned to him under a valid power of attorney.

“I am a Nigerian, born and raised in Delta State. I am a qualified professional acting under a legitimate mandate. This is a lawful business transaction,” he said.
He further alleged that some individuals involved in the current dispute were also facing separate legal matters relating to other land issues within the state.

Morah maintained that MALTEK Resources would continue to rely on lawful means to safeguard its investment and proceed with the planned development of the property.

Corroborating the position of MALTEK Resources, Secretary of Amachai Community Group B, Dr. Joseph Okolie, said the purpose of the briefing was to refute allegations made during the Government House protest.

He explained that the Amachai Community had long been divided into two recognised factions following judicial pronouncements, adding that Group B lawfully disposed of part of its land to MALTEK Resources before traditional leaders initiated reconciliation efforts.

Okolie said the resulting Memorandum of Understanding stipulated that all previous land sales conducted by both factions would remain valid while also providing a framework for sharing community land among the four constituent villages, with an additional portion reserved for communal purposes.

He, however, accused Group A of violating the agreement by allegedly denying Group B access to its allocated land before instituting legal action to challenge the arrangement.

According to him, the matter, filed before the High Court in Asaba in 2012, was decided in favour of Group B in 2020, with the Court of Appeal subsequently affirming the judgment after Group A appealed.

Okolie insisted that Samuel Morah’s involvement in the property was lawful since he was appointed through a valid power of attorney after MALTEK Resources completed the land purchase.

“Samuel Morah did not fall from heaven. We sold the land to MALTEK Resources, and the company gave him a power of attorney to work on its land. There is no basis for the allegation that he is a land grabber,” he said.