From George Onyejiuwa, Owerri
The family of Umezuruike of Umuehieze village in Okpala Umuekwene in Ngor Okpala council area of Imo State has heaved a sigh of relief, following the resolution of the land dispute between them and Mrs Faustina Akujiobi of Okweketa village and her supporters by the traditional council of Egbelu Umuekwene, led by Eze George Nwosu.
The Umezuruike family had allegedly accused Mrs Faustina Akujiobi of trespassing into the family’s land, while Mrs Akujiobi had also claimed that her late father -in-law had given the land to Umezuruike to hold in trust for his only son, Anaele Akujiobi.
However, on October 14 , 2024, the traditional ruler of Egbelu Umuekwene, Eze Nwosu and his cabinet members who were handling the land dispute between Mrs Akujiobi and the Umezuruike family, following its investigation and inquiries, had resolved the case in favour of the Umezuruike family of Umuehieze village Umuekuene.
The Palace Secretary, Chief Onyeneke Obirieze, who read out the judgement on the disputed land in the presence of all the disputants said: “Mrs Faustina Anaele Akujiobi had in her submission before this palace claimed that her late father-in-law had given the land in dispute to the Umezuruike to hold in trust for her late husband, Achila Akujiobi, till he attains the age of maturity. On this matter, we decided to carry out a thorough investigation to ascertain the truth. But her claims were debunked by the Umezuruike family right in her presence and even by members of other families from Umuehieze and Okweketa because they share a common boundary. Mrs Akujiobi did not also produce any witness to support her claims.”
Continuing, he also said: “There is this ancient tree that marks the boundary between Umuehieze and Okweketa. Umuehieze is on the right and Okweketa is on the left. We visited the land and the one that Faustina is claiming did not extend to the Umezuruike family land, which is beyond the boundary. After that, we have the family of Umunwosu and Umuokere. Before reaching our verdict, we made inquiries from the elders from both villages. Therefore, without any iota of doubt, the real owners of the land in question is the Umezuruike family of Umuehieze village and not Faustina or any member of her late father-in-law’s family. Again, even at that, Faustina also failed to produce any witnesses.”
Mrs Akujiobi, who rejected the verdict outrightly, had allegedly accused the palace chiefs of having been induced with bribes to turn in a verdict in favour of the Umezuruike’s family .
She said: “This land belongs to my late father-in-law. I will leave everything to God. I know that they have given them a bribe for this judgment. I will appeal this judgment to God Almighty. My brother, this land belongs to my late father-in- law, this is what I know.”