A decades-long land dispute between Umobor village in Akaeze community and Ogwor village in Ishiagu, both in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, has resurfaced, with Umobor calling on Governor Francis Nwifuru to enforce a 1991 Supreme Court judgment in their favor.
The contested land, Elueke, has been a source of conflict since 1923, with ownership claims leading to multiple court battles. Despite rulings at every level, including the Native Court, High Court, Court of Appeal, and finally the Supreme Court, Ogwor village has refused to abide by the judgments, intensifying tensions between the communities.
Recent violence over the land has claimed six lives, prompting Governor Nwifuru to declare the area a buffer zone. He also convened a stakeholders’ meeting, established a reconciliation committee, and issued a two-week ultimatum for peace, warning that the land could be forfeited to the state government.
In a letter to the governor, Chief Mike Ahamba, SAN, counsel to Umobor village, urged the state to enforce the Supreme Court ruling and prevent further bloodshed. He recounted the legal history, highlighting how Ogwor village lost at every stage of the judicial process, including the 1991 Supreme Court verdict.
Chief Ahamba further appealed to the governor to involve security agencies in ensuring compliance with the court’s decision, stressing the need for justice and lasting peace in the area.
