The deputy governor of Edo state, Hon. Dennis Idahosa, says the disputed forest reserve between Abere and Ajakuruma Ijaw communities of the Ovia South West Local Government Area belongs to the state government.

The deputy governor who is the chairman of the state boundary committee subsequently barred members of the two communities from laying claims to the forest reserve.

According to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Friday Aghedo, the deputy governor declared the disputed reserve as “Bona Vacantia” on Wednesday when he met with both communities.

He directed both communities to maintain peace and adhere to the resolution of the state boundary committee on the disputed forest reserve.

READ ALSO:Edo Dep. Gov. Idahosa Inducted, Bestowed With Rotary Premium Award

Idahosa explained that it was criminal for either of the communities to go into the forest reserve to take ownership of the landmass as the area in dispute was not “Bona vacantia.”

He noted that documentary evidence available suggests that the area in question belongs to the government of Edo state.

“You cannot fight over what doesn’t belong to you. Documentary evidence showed that the landmass in question belonged to the state, a process verified through the use of digital Coordinates.

READ ALSO: Okpebholo, Idahosa Bag UNIBEN Distinguished Service, Leadership Awards

“Whatever we have done here today is in line with the law. Go back to your communities and ensure that there is peace. Anybody that wants to foment trouble should be ready to face the wrath of the law,” he emphasised.

The deputy governor commended the Ovia South West council chairman, Mr Nosakhare Edobor, for averting crisis that would have led to loss of lives.

Edobor, who said the issue had been on for about seven months now, appealed to communities in the local government to always embrace dialogue in resolving contentious matters.

Juliet Asein, a female journalist with the Edo Broadcasting Service (EBS), has been hospitalised after she was allegedly assaulted by the suspended Coordinator of the Edo State Public Safety Response Team (PSRT), Kelly Okungbowa, widely known as Ebo Stone.

The incident occurred on Wednesday inside the Edo State Government House, where Juliet who covers the Office of the First Lady was said to have been shoved and slammed against a wall during a confrontation with Ebo Stone.

The violence reportedly stemmed from a disruption at an empowerment programme for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs), organised by the First Lady’s Office and held within the Government House.
‎
Trouble reportedly broke out when some PWDs stormed the venue’s entrance, protesting alleged exclusion from the programme.
‎
‎In the commotion, an EBS cameraman attempting to film the scene was allegedly harassed by Okungbowa, prompting Juliet to intervene, which reportedly led to her being physically attacked.

READ ALSO:NUJ Reacts As Sacked Edo Taskforce Boss Assaults EBS Staff
‎
‎Okungbowa, a chieftain of the ruling APC and the former PSRT coordinator, previously faced public backlash after the taskforce he headed was linked to a tragic incident in which a two-year-old girl died in a crash involving team members.
‎
‎The public outcry that followed led Governor Monday Okpebholo to suspend him from the role.

Confirming Juliet’s state of health, a family member Andrew Enabulele, said she began experiencing severe pains later that night and could not sleep.
‎
According to him, ‎she was taken to a private clinic on Thursday before being referred to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for further medical care.

READ ALSO:Iran Has Executed At Least 841 People This Year — UN
‎
‎He said: “We took her to a private clinic where doctors said she may have suffered muscle spasms.

“She has now been referred to UBTH, where she is receiving treatment. She is a mother of twin toddlers, so we are praying for her quick recovery,” he added.
‎
Meanwhile, Ebo Stone had visited the NUJ Press Centre, Benin on Thursday, where he reportedly apologized to leadership of the Council after the Union had condemned the act, threatening a press conference to that effect.

After meeting the Chairman and the Secretary of the council for the apology, the NUJ Chairman urged members to sheath the sword.

Edo State House of Assembly Ad hoc Committee constituted to investigate the Museum of West African Art (MOWAA) and Radisson Hotel on Thursday threatened to issue an arrest warrant on former Governor Godwin Obaseki for refusing to appear before it.

The Committee was constituted following a request by Governor Monday Okpebholo to probe funding and ownership of the projects including the extent of the state government N3.8bn investment in MOWAA and N28bn in Radisson Hotel.

But the Committee said it has powers to ask the Police to bring any individual before it to answer questions.

Other persons, besides Obaseki, that were invited by the Committee were a former Edo Finance Commissioner, Mr. Joseph Eboigbe, former Attorney General of Edo State, Mr. Oluwole Osaze-Uzzi, Managing Director, Tilbury House Nigeria Limited, Mr. Pramod Thorat, Project Manager of Hospitality Investment and Management Company (HIMC) Mr. Ugochukwu Anigbogu, Managing Director, Afrinvest Capital Limited, Managing Director, Meristem Trustees Limited and Managing Director, Emerging Africa Trustees Ltd.

READ ALSO:MOWAA: Why I Will Not Appear Before Edo Assembly Panel — Obaseki

It said those declining to appear before it could not claim they were refused right to fair hearing.

Chairman of the Committee, Hon Addeh Isibor, who spoke at the resumed sitting of the Committee, said Obaseki and others sent letters through their lawyers stating reasons why they declined the Committee’s invitation.

He said Obaseki cited lawsuit filed in various courts against MOWAA as reasons for his absence.

Peeved at the action of Obaseki and others, Hon Isibor said the Committee was on a fact finding and not to witch-hunt anybody.

He insisted that the Committee would submit its report based on fact.

READ ALSO:Edo Assembly Invites Obaseki, Others For Questioning Over MOWAA

According to him, “These gentlemen have unilaterally chosen to absent themselves that there exist court cases regarding our sitting or issues under consideration.

“We know the position of the law. We are not dunces but cerebral people. We are constitutionally mandated to carry out investigation or hearing on any matter to which we have the power of appropriation.

“The mere filing of a suit in court cannot amount to stay of proceeding. They ran to court after we commenced the public hearing.

“No judge can stop our sitting. We will reach a decision on the matter. If you choose not to make yourself available, you cannot claim you were refused right to fair hearing.

READ ALSO:MOWAA Authorities Shun Edo Assembly Committee, Give Reason

“It is more offensive that none of the SANs attached court processes to the letters. They know they rushed to court at midnight. These are empty letters.

“They want to stop this Committee from getting to the root of the matter. We reject the letters as lacking in merit. Edo Assembly is not a party to the suit.

“The Committee has powers to ask the Police to bring those concerns here. We have no letter stopping the Committee from completing its assignment.”