By Ovasa Ogaga,
A prominent Niger Delta activist, Mr. Collins Eselemo, has criticized the Delta State Government and its agencies for their blatant disregard of court orders. He warned that such undemocratic actions pose a significant threat to Nigeria's democracy.
Eselemo specifically condemned the recent actions of the Delta State Ministry of Urban Renewal, Land & Survey, and Environment, which, despite a subsisting State High Court restraining order, went ahead to destroy the properties of Dr. Prosper Orezimena and Pa India Osanebi. He described these actions as unbecoming of Governor Sheriff Oborevwori’s administration and called for urgent intervention to restore the rule of law.
The activist urged Governor Oborevwori to ensure that his commissioners, especially those overseeing Urban Renewal, Environment, and Justice, respect the law. He stressed that their unlawful actions are tarnishing the reputation of the government.
"The alarming disregard by the Delta State Government toward interim and interlocutory injunctions issued by the state's High Court is casting the Sheriff Oborevwori administration in a bad light. This must be addressed," Eselemo said.
In June, reports emerged alleging that the Delta State Government had violated a lawful court order by demolishing the homes of Dr. Prosper Orezimena, a medical practitioner, and his neighbor, Pa. India Osanebi. The demolition was allegedly orchestrated by a powerful People's Democratic Party (PDP) chieftain seeking to access his property through theirs.
The victims had initially sought legal protection through an ex-parte motion filed on May 22, 2024, at the Delta State High Court in Effurun. The court, presided over by Justice R.D. Harriman, granted an interim injunction restraining the Delta State Ministry of Urban Renewal, the Ministry of Land & Survey, the Attorney General of Delta State, and the Executive Governor from demolishing the properties located at No. 1 Airaboyi Close, off Jesus is Lord Street, Effurun, pending the determination of the case. The return date was set for June 10, 2024.
Despite the court order, the Delta State Government, through the Ministry of Urban Renewal and the Ministry of Land & Survey, allegedly brought in bulldozers on June 20, 2024, to demolish the buildings without giving the occupants an opportunity to remove their belongings. The action was reportedly carried out under the instigation of a powerful political figure.
Following the government's defiance of the interim court order, the victims sought an interlocutory injunction. On July 16, 2024, Justice Harriman again granted the claimants' prayers, restraining the defendants from further demolishing or interfering with the properties until the case's final resolution.
The court’s certified true copy of the order, issued on July 18, 2024, emphasized that the injunction remained in effect until the case was determined. The next hearing was scheduled for October 14, 2024.
In defiance of this standing court order, Delta State Commissioner of Environment, Mr. Ejiro Jamani, allegedly demolished the structure last week. Despite the court order being visibly posted on the property, the demolition proceeded in a "commando-style" operation. The commissioner reportedly mobilized local enforcers to intimidate and harm anyone who approached the site.
Our investigation also shows that the bulldozer used for the demolition exercises belongs to the top PDP chieftain who now act as a law unto himself and the Delta State Government through it agencies are aiding him to disregard courts orders.
When our team visited the site the bulldozer, we saw has this name GEECOMS Integrated Services Limited pasted on it, a company of the PDP chieftain who want to create a road out of other properties. This has aroused further suspicious, making people to question if Delta State Government awarded the contract for the grading of the road to a party to the dispute in Court.
Eselemo called on the governor to immediately address these unlawful actions and ensure that his administration upholds the rule of law.
