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Land Tussle: Appeal Court Dismisses Case, Awards N15m Against Edo Community

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The Appeal Court sitting in Benin City has dismissed an appeal filed before it by Ukhiri village, challenging an earlier declarative reliefs judgement delivered by the State High Court in Benin in favour of Ulegun Village, both of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

The Appeal Court also allowed the cross appeal filed by the cross appealants (Ulegun) against the cross respondents (Ukhiri Village) and awarded the sum of Fifteen Million Naira ( N15, 000,000.00) as damages against Ukhiri.

In a unanimous decision read by Justice Biobele Abraham Georgewill, in the main and cross appeal with suit No. CA/B/147/2018 and CA/B/147A, respectively, the court dismissed the Ukhiri’s appeal for lacking in merit.

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The Respondents (Ulegun) had on May 25, 2004 approached the trial court (High Court) to seek amongst others a declaration as the owners of the parcel of land measuring 225.47 hectares lying and situated along the Benin-Abraka road, Ulegun village in Ikpoba-Okha local government, Edo State.

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Also, a declaration that the act of Ukhiri Village entry, selling off, building or doing anything whatsoever on the land amounted to the violation of the ruling against the defendants, Ukhiri Osemwende Village in Suit No: 268/B/76 that was upheld by the Supreme court in Suit No: SC/178/1993 and that such act amounted to trespass.

Delivering her judgment which lasted for about two hours in November 2018, Justice Esther Amenaghawon Edigin (now retired) said: “Judgment is hereby entered in favour of the claimants (Ulegun Dukedom) and against the defendants ( Ukhiri Osemwende Dukedom).

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“The claimants are entitled to the declaration of title and it is hereby declared that they are the owners of that whole parcel of land measuring 224. 45 hectares lying and situated at Ulegun Village in the Benin-Abraka Road, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

“Any sales by the defendants on the land is hereby nullified. The defendants, their agents, servants are perpetually restrained from selling, erecting building or doing anything on the land.

“And a damage of N2.5 million is hereby awarded against the defendants (Ukhiri ) and in favour of the claimants (Ulegun)”, the court ruled.

Justice Edigin who averred that the court does not have jurisdiction to sit on appeal over the ruling of the Supreme court.

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Edigin, maintained that it would amount to judicial rascality and also dismissed the counter claims of the defendants.

However, not satisfied with the judgement of the trial court, Ukhiri approached the appellant court to seek amongst others the up turning of the decision of trial court while Ulegun in a cross appeal also approached the court for possible review of the earlier N2.5 million damages against Ukhiri.

Recall that Ukhiri had in 1976 dragged Ulegun to court alleging encroachment of a portion of its land by Ulegun.

At the lower court, the court observed that the survey plan tendered by Ukhiri as exhibit A was in agreement with that of Ulegun contrary to what they (Ukhiri people) were claiming, hence judgement was entered against Ukhiri and in favour of Ulegun.

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The case was again struck out at the Appeal Court for lack of merit along with cost awarded against the appellants over damages and trespass.

Not satisfied with the judgements, Ukhiri village approached the Supreme court on ground that the defendants (Ulegun) only defended their claim in 1976 but did not counter claim.

After hearing, the apex court upheld the decision of the lower courts and extinguished the appellants’ claim to all the parcel of lands situated on the Benin Abraka road, Ikpoba Okha local government area by the Ukhiri community.

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This prompted the Ulegun community to seek legal service of Ferdinand Orbih (SAN) and Co. to seek declarative reliefs which were granted by Justice Esther Edigin rtd, in 2018.

Addressing newsmen shortly after the judgements, delivered via Zoom, Counsel to Ulegun Village, Anderson Uwadiae Asemota (Esq), hailed the judgement, declaring that the judiciary remains the last hope of the common man.

He said with the alleged influence wielded by Ukhiri community, Ulegun would have lost the case, describing the judgement as victory for democracy.

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Shock As Woman Who Visited Hospital For Scan Was Told She’s Dead

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A woman was left shocked when she turned up to a hospital scan only to be told by staff that her records showed that she was already ‘’dead.”

Susan Johnson from Scarborough was left ‘shaking by a leaf’ after staff at the Bridlington Hospital in Yorkshire told her their records showed she’d been dead for four months.

The incident left Susan, 62, a retired housekeeper, baffled that her husband Bob needed to bring her a strong coffee to help calm her nerves.

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The mother-of-two told BBC News: ‘I gave them my letter and their first words were, “ooh you’re dead”.

‘I said, “pardon?”. I was in shock.

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‘Then they put something on the computer so I could have the scan and then they just said, “bye” and that’s it.’

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It is unclear how the mistake happened as when Susan contacted her GP, they told her that the mistake had been fixed.

However, when she contacted the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), the call handler told her she was still marked as already dead on the system.

‘On the computer you’re dead,’ she was told. Susan then informed her she couldn’t be dead as she was on the phone and talking.

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The error meant that Susan’s carer’s allowance for looking after her disabled husband Bob briefly stopped, though this has now been fixed.

She said she shut down completely after the news and said there was nobody to talk to about the mistake.

Scarborough Medical Group told the BBC they’d received an electronic instruction about the ‘death’ from Primary Care Support England (PCSE).

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Susan is concentrating on her hobbies of gardening and knitting as she recovers from the shock.

An NHS spokesperson said: ‘We are aware of an issue involving a civil death registration being incorrectly recorded against a patient’s medical record.

‘This was removed within 24 hours of it being reported to us in March 2023 and the patient was re-registered by their GP.

‘We would encourage the patient to contact us directly so we can explain further.’

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PHOTOS: Sandhurst Trained: UK High Commissioner Hosts First Nigerian Female To Graduate From Premier British Military Institution

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The British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Richard Montgomery, has congratulated Princess Owowoh on making history at the United Kingdom’s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst (RMAS).

Taking to X.com on Thursday, Montgomery expressed his pleasure in meeting Owowoh, who was accompanied by an officer from the Nigerian Defence Academy.

Sharing photos, he wrote, “I was pleased to meet 2nd Lt. Princess Owowoh, the first Nigerian female officer cadet to graduate from the UK’s

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#RMASandhurst, accompanied by Lt. Col Nyiam from the #NDefenceAcademy to congratulate her on making history, hear about her experience, and reflect on our Nigeria-British relationship.”

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Owowoh graduated from the RMAS as the first-ever Nigerian female officer on April 12.

She joined the NDA in Kaduna in 2018, where she was appointed as a cadet lance corporal in her second year.

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She rose to a cadet sergeant in her fourth year and was appointed company senior under Officer Charlie (CSUO C) in her fifth year.

Owowoh held the appointment with two other female counterparts and made history by becoming the first female to hold the position of CSUO at the academy.

During her fourth year, she completed the academic component of the commissioning course, achieving first-class honours in biological sciences.

See the photos below:

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PICTORIAL: C&S Church Ayo Ni O Installs New Leader

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The Cherubim and Seraphim (S&S) Movement Church Worldwide, on Wednesday, formally installed Prophet Emmanuel Alogbo as the 6th Baba Aladura and spiritual head of the church.

Alogbo was appointed the acting spiritual head in November 2023 following the death of his predecessor, Samuel Abidoye, who died on November 12, at the age of 103.

A statement published on the official website of the church reads, “The ascension of Most Senior Special Prophet Dr. Emmanuel Abiodun Alogbo to the revered position of Spiritual Father and Chairman of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement Church signifies a pivotal moment in the history of the church, ushering in a new era of leadership and guidance for its global congregation.”

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Alogbo’s installation was reported to have been attended by important figures in the church, “including the Olori of Cherubim and Seraphim Unification, His Most Eminence Pro. Dr. S. A. Alao J.Pil., who performed the anointment, which added to the solemnity and grandeur of the occasion.”

Alao was said to have charged the new Baba Aladura to embrace his role with strength and courage.

Congregants were also said to have recognised Alogbo as an embodiment of divine wisdom, compassion, and spiritual insight.

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In his pledge to the CSMC Worldwide, the new Baba Adura was quoted assaying, “I solemnly pledge to continue the good work of moving our beloved church forward, which the late Baba Aladura Prophet Samuel Adefila Abidoye started.

“It is my firm commitment to ensure that the C&S Movement Church continues to march on, spreading its message of faith and love to all corners of the globe.”

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