Delta monarch destroys 76-year-old widow’s house

A 76-year-old widow in Owa-Oyibu, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Mrs Rose Eluemelem, has cried out for justice over the demolition of her building allegedly by the Obi of Owa Kingdom, Emmanuel Efeizomor 11, TopNaija reports.

Eluemelem alleged that one of the sons of the traditional ruler, Prince Wilson Efeizomor, demolished the house built by her late husband. The widow stated that the property was built by her late husband over 65 years ago, but wondered why the monarch was now laying claim to it.

She stated, “I am the wife of Mr Dennis ljeh Eluemelem, the owner of the property lying and situated at Owa-Oyibu, along Alero Road, near the Ika North East Local Government Council secretariat, Owa-Oyibu.

“My late husband bought the parcel of land on which he built his house from the late Mathias Egbon. Being an enlightened man, his transaction with the late Mathias Egbon was documented.

“My family had been in absolute possession of the said property since about 65 years ago without any hindrance, trespass or third party claim on the land.

“When the lka North East Local Government Area of Delta State was created in 1991, the property was leased to the Nigeria Police before its present station was built at Owa-Oyibu. The Nigeria Police Force paid rent to us. As a matter of fact, the NPF was a tenant to my late husband.

“All these happened in the presence of the Obi of Owa and his children, who never raised an eyebrow, objection or third party claim to the said property. My children want me to return to the village as a result of my old age and decided to renovate their father’s house.”

She said it was in the course of renovating the house that Wilson and his hired hoodlums allegedly invaded and destroyed the house. The widow blamed Obi Emmanuel for her predicament, stating that the monarch was the one who started the injustice by waging a war against her over the property.

She stated that the family had gone to court and was victorious, but wondered why the monarch and his son were against her. She appealed to government at all levels as well as human rights activists to come to her rescue as she had been rendered homeless by the Efeizomor family.

When contacted, the spokesperson for the royal family, Prince Victor Efeizomor, told our correspondent that the complaint over the demolition of the house was not only spurious, but malicious falsehood that would not fly.

He said, “Firstly, the Obi of Owa is not in contention with anybody over the ownership of the land. The property/land is the ancestral land of Owa, where dead kings of the Owa kingdom are buried and it is a sacred land and accommodates the Owa shrine.

“Secondly, the woman and her family wrongfully purchased the land from someone, who was not the rightful owner of the property. Thirdly, the land belongs to the ancient royal family, the ruling house of Owa, and it’s the burial place for late kings of Owa.”

Victor added that the Obi did not demolish any building and did not order his son to do so.