DTHA PLENARY WEDNESDAY 24TH APRIL 2024: Delta Assembly Adopts Omonade led Committee Report
Delta State House of Assembly has adopted the recommendations of the house committee on public petition on the alleged forceful takeover of landed properties belonging to Civil Service Commission Staff Multi-purpose Co-operative Society situated at Amachai community, Okpanam in Oshimili North Local government area of Delta State.
The house adopted the report following a presentation by Chairman, House Committee on Public Petition, Honourable Matthew Omonade during Wednesday’s plenary presided over by the Speaker, Right Honourable Emomotimi Guwor.
Honourable Matthew Omonade while presenting his 15 pages report on the alleged forceful takeover of landed properties belonging to the Petitioner, Civil Service Commission Staff Multi-purpose Co-operative Society limited by the respondents, Mr Friday Okonkwo, Mr Felix Okeleke and Mr Austine Okolie operating as Okpanam Land recovery Committee; disclosed that during investigative hearing, the Petitioner provided all available evidences to prove the legality of the acquisition of the said property but the respondents failed to appear before the committee after several notices were made to them.
Hon. Omonade further asserted that after thorough investigation of the petition, the committee came up with several findings, one of which is the fact that the Staff Multi-purpose Co-operative Society having alloted the property to members in 2012 without any harassment from anyone, became threatened by Mr Friday Okonkwor who was part of the transaction and now leads the supposed land recovery Committee.
The Lawmaker who represents Ughelli North 1 Constituency, in his Committee recommendations, urged the house to condemn the unjust use of force and threat of violence by the respondents operating under the aegies of Okpanam Land Recovery Committee in taking over 38 plots of land belonging to Civil Service Commission Staff Multi-purpose Co-operative Society.
The committee also urged the house to direct the respondents from interfering with the property, calling on the Delta State Attorney general and Commissioner of Justice to prosecute the respondents in accordance with Delta State Public and Private properties Protection Law, 2018 to serve as deterrent to other members of the public to desist from such act known as land grabbing.
Hon. Omonade’s Public Petition committee further recommended that the house committee on Information and Legislative compliance liase with the relevant government agencies for the sensitization of Deltans and persons residing in the State on the existence of a law protects public and private properties.
In a motion moved by the majority leader, Honourable Emeka Nwaobi and seconded by the member representing Burutu 1 Constituency, Honourable Oloye Pereotu, the house received the report of the committee and opened debate on the report.
Some Lawmakers in their various submissions, condemned the actions of the respondents and those of land grabbers, and called for the adoption of the recommendations of the committee.
The house thereafter adopted the recommendations of the committee in unanimous voice vote as the Speaker, Right Honourable Emomotimi Guwor asked the clerk of the house, Mr Otto Aghoghophia to communicate the resolution of the house to the relevant authorities, urging the house committee on Legislative Compliance to ensure compliance to resolution.
In an interview shortly after Plenary, deputy Speaker, Right Honourable Arthur Akpowovwo who is Chairman House Committee on Legislative Compliance has reaffirmed the commitment of the committee to enforce compliance to resolutions and bills passed by the house.
The house thereafter adjourned plenary to Tuesday, April 30 2024.