Omuogbo Family Seeks N8bn for Property Destruction

The Omuogbo family of Omumeri, located in the Ikwerre local government area of Rivers State, has alleged the looting and destruction of approximately 300 properties valued at N8 billion due to a prolonged land dispute with the Omunkwa family. They are demanding N8 billion in compensation for the alleged destruction.

In a statement signed by Comrade Austin Joe Ebele and Chief Alexander Amesi Ebele, the Omuogbo family claims that their properties and those of their tenants were destroyed using forged judicial documents. The dispute has a lengthy history, with the Omuogbo family winning a case at the Isiokpo Customary Court in 1989, which was later upheld by the High Court.

However, in 1991, the Omunkwa family won a subsequent case at the High Court, a decision the Omuogbo family appealed to the Court of Appeal and lost. They have since appealed to the Supreme Court, where the matter remains unresolved.

The Omuogbo family asserts that despite the pending appeal, the Omunkwa family unlawfully executed actions on the disputed land in 2021.