Transporter -Edison Motors Dismisses Allegations
By Okey Maduforo Awka
There is growing tension in Ihiala community of Ihiala local government area of Anambra State the alleged missing of seven persons following land dispute between the family of Martins Okolie of Umuezehi and Edwin Obi, the owner of Edison Motors even as the later described the allegation as tissue of lies.
According to a petition signed by the family of Okolie against Chief Edwin Obi, the owner of Edison Motors which was sent to Anambra State Police Command, the family accused the transporter of being responsible for the disappearance of their kinsmen over land dispute.
“A former chairman of Ihiala local government area, who’s from the community, Chief Jude Obi, was kidnapped over two years ago and his whereabouts unknown since then. Few months ago, a prominent member of the community, Mr Stephen Nneji, was abducted and released after some ransom was allegedly paid. Nneji has fled the community with members of his family.
The family further accused Obi of using men of Anambra state police Command, purportedly from the IGP Monitoring Squad to abduct some members of the community intimidating and harassing others, including their patriarch, Martins Okolie, who is the most senior member of Umuezehi clan.
According to the petitioner, Obi had allegedly bought a land from a member of the kindred, but some members had disputed the sales, saying that it’s a family land, which was not supposed to have been sold by one person.
“When the issue became contentious and to avoid a breakdown of law and order, the kindred decided to refer the matter to the head (okpara) for adjudication, the petitioner said.
“The case arose over a land dispute between family members of Ogumorobi, One of the family members was said to have sold a land to Chief Edwin Obi, the Owner of Edison Motors, with Mr. Kevin Okolie as the agent. However one family members was said to have objected to the sales, asserting that the land is a family land, which should not be disposed of by one persons.
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“The aggrieved side of the family brought the matter to the family for dispute resolution as it has always been the custom and tradition of the people of Umuejimike, in Akwa Ihiala,”
“When the family could not resolve the matter amongst themselves, the case was referred to the head (Okpara) of the community, being Evangelist Martins Okolie”
“A meeting was called by the family head so as to look into the matter, following which some recommendations where reached, it would be note worthy that the other party refused to attend the meeting so as to resolve the dispute.”
However, the petitioner said that in the early hours of Wednesday, March 6, some hooded armed men stormed the community, and when they couldn’t break into the house of the head of the family, they proceeded to other houses where some men and women were abducted.
“It’s worthy of note that the head of the family wasn’t privy to the sales, nor did he, in any way benefit therefrom. He was only asked to adjudicate on the matter by leaders of the kindred.”
As of this time the whereabouts of more than seven persons both men and women picked up since Thursday night 6th march are unknown. The said Kevin Okolie is said to be bragging that on this matter he is going to make sure that more persons disappear from the village. Is either he is being used as a smoke screen for the purchaser of the land or he is acting alone.
But when contacted the owner of Edison Motors Chief Edwin Obi dismissed those allegations adding that the petitioners are running from the law because they are not innocent of the allegation leveled against them.
Edwin Obi Said he duly bought land from the family and all necessary documents signed before Chief Martin’s Okolie came into the picture.
” He is forming illegal court in his house, adjudicating on land matters. He’s not the owner of the land and the land sold is not a communal land but I bought directly from the family and his grouse was that the family sold the land to an outsider according to him.
He has no title on the land but he is just a land speculator and he is the one who is trying to intimidate me and I had to report the matter to the police and when police invited them, he started running.
He has been advised to stay away from the land because he has no title on the land and therefore should not meddle into the land. He has been at large and has been running away from the police since invitation was extended to him by the police and others earlier arrested by the police have all be released on bail except him who is running from police invitation.
