The people of Ekoken in the Uhunmwode local Government Council area of Edo State have celebrated a Court of Appeal judgement that gave them victory in a lingering boundary dispute between them and the Igueosagie village.
In their celebration, they asserted that the Appeal Court victory was only an affirmation of the earlier resolution of the dispute in favour of the people of Ekoken by the Benin Monarch, HRM Oba Ewuare II.
According to the most elderly man in Ekoken, David Eguasa Uhunwangho, the two neighbours have been bounded by the natural features of a moat from time immemorial as traditionally recognised in the Benin Kingdom.
But suddenly, Igueosagie people crossed the boundary deliberately, encroached on the land of Ekoken, and were illegally selling lands to unsuspecting developers unrestrained.
Okaighele of Ekoken, Billy Aimuavbosa Ugiagbe, said,
“It has been a long walk since 2005 when the Palace of the Oba of Benin first gave judgment in favour of the people of Ekoken.
“Again in 2018, after the withdrawal of the suit that was in the court in compliance to the directive of the Palace , HRM Oba Ewuare II resolved the dispute in favour of the people of Ekoken following the natural features of the moat boundary.
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“Surprisingly, our neighbours; the people of Igueosagie, refused to abide by the Palace resolution and continued their unrestricted encroachment on our land.
“Even at that they again took us to court, where Justice Eboriemen based on the verifiable evidence presented, also gave judgement in our favour that according to the resolution of the authority of the Palace of the Benin Monarch, the traditional boundary of ‘Iyanuwu’ (boundary moat) should remain and be adopted by all the disputing parties.
“As usual, the people of Igueosagie in concerted efforts to illegally take over our land took an appeal for about two years now.
“Probably sensing that the appeal may likely not be in their favour, they went back to the Palace of Oba Ewuare II seeking intervention.
“So, as customary, the authority of the Oba asked all the disputing parties to return to the court, especially when it was the same people of Igueosagie who instituted the appeal case.
“But fortunately, the Appeal Court has given judgment in favour of the people of Ekoken, upholding the judgment of the lower court, and the earlier resolution of the Palace of the Oba of Benin.”
Also speaking, one of the leaders of Ekoken, Nestor Amayo, corroborated the narrative of the earlier speakers.
The elated people of Ekoken said that they have been again vindicated, urging their neighbour to embrace the peace.
They warned developers and prospective buyers in the area in dispute from ‘Iyanuwu’ (boundary moat) downward’ to take note of the latest development.
