*Rejects court order *Seize community lands
*Threatens police, Asaba indigenes
The foundation of Asaba, the capital city of Delta State has continued to be threatened by the Asagba of Asaba, Obi (Prof.) Chike Edozien and some cult members allegedly sponsored by the monarch.
Since the reign of Asagba, peace has continued to elude Asaba community sited along the River Niger bank.
Information reaching ZN news desk authoritatively revealed that the Asagba has seized the community lands of Umuofunne of Agu-Na-Ugboma, Asaba, situate Amilomocha , Ona Ododo Ani Ulor and its tributaries along the Niger River bank. He further threatened to deal with any of the community members found on the land.
It is on record that when you demarcate Asaba into two, Agu-Na-Gboma owns half of the entire lands.
It could be recalled that some irresponsible persons from the community allegedly being sponsored by the Asagba went selling parts of the lands without the community approval. This action angered the community which believed on the rule of law. And one Obi Anyanwu Odiaka who is one of the custodians of the land proceeded to the court and got judgement against the illegal sellers of the lands.
However, since the judgement was granted the said persons being allegedly sponsored by the Asagba, have continued to sell lands.
ZN recently garnered that parts of the lands were sold for N40 million and the Asagba allegedly got his own share of the money.
Based on this development, Obi Odiaka and Agu-Na-Ugboma community proceeded to get execution order from the court.
These illegal land sellers dominated by cult members angered by the execution order granted by the court went to the lands in question, cut of tapes used by the court to seal the lands and took them to their leader’s home.
As if that was not enough, they proceeded to various houses of the community members that were against the illegal sales to beat them up and destroy their properties.
For instance, Obi Odiaka was mercilessly beaten, and stripe naked on the street.
As the actions of the illegal land sellers allegedly sponsored by the Asagba, continued in Agu-Na-Ugboma community, the leaders of the community had no other option than to call in the police into the matter. This led to the arrest of one of the major culprits, who was remanded by the court in Ogwashi-Uku prison.
The Agu-Na-Ugboma community had been in peace until the Asagba allegedly came in to use these dissidents to start causing problems.
Presently, there are two court judgements gotten by the community against these dissidents.
A funny twist came into the matter when Asagba set up a committee to look into the issues of Agu-Na-Ugboma community. The fact remains that Asagba has no traditional or constitutional right to do so, because Asaba land tenure system does not permit it.
Also, Asagba’s insistence of the red cap chiefs of Agu-Na-gbama community signing allegiance to him, does not hold water in Asaba. Asagba is a red cap chief and it is a known fact that all red cap chiefs are equal. Asagba in Asaba hierarchy is a selected representative of the red cap chiefs. That does not make him higher or superior to other red cap chiefs in Asaba community.
Furthermore, Asagba’s recent proclamation, banishing the Diopka of Umuagu does not hold water, as the Asagba has no right to banish the Diokpa.
In Asaba, it is a known fact that a diokpa is higher than a king (Okpala ka eze).
Meanwhile, Asagba and his alleged sponsored land grabbers have been doing everything possible to cause mayhem both in Agu-Na-gbama community and Asaba in general.
He has vowed to deal ruthlessly with Obi Odiaka and other people from Agu-Na-gboma community who tried to query his actions.
