Clement James 
The Stakeholders and Leaders of Thought of the Umubor Akaeze community, Ebonyi State, have appealed to Governor Francis Nwifuru to enforce the Supreme Court judgement on the protracted communal crisis that erupted between them and their neighbours of Ogwor Ishiagu.
This was contained in a petition written on their behalf by their counsel Chief Mike Ikenna Ahamba (SAN) and addressed to the State Chief Executive.
According to the petition titled, “Conflagration: need for your immediate Intervention to uphold the Rule of law and Protection of Human Lives”
It noted that the Ogwor community appealed to the Supreme Court of Nigeria in Supreme Court No.SC/3/1990, but their situation did not change as they lost at the Apex Court in a judgment delivered on the 27th day of September 1991.
According to the petition, “After this loss at the apex court, Ogwor community seemed to accept the settlement as final, but that was for some time as they started encroaching on the land once again”
“I am addressing this letter to your Excellency following what I may term a distress brief from the Umobor Akaeze village leaders”
“I have been informed by my clients, that you are aware of the inter-village conflict which has flared up in Lvo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State since Monday the 2nd day of December 2024 with, unfortunately, alarming fatalities”
“It is my information from my clients that there has been a lingering land dispute between Umobor Akaeze Village and Ogwor Ishiagu Village of which are notable communities in Ebonyi State”
” This crisis is over a farmland known as and called Elueke Umobor land, the dispute dates back to about the year 1923″
According to my instructions, Ogwor Ishiagu people took my clients to the Native Court in that area at the time, but lost to Umobor Akaeze people”
It added, “Not satisfied with that decision, Ogwor Ishiagu people sued my clients again to the High Court at Abakaliki, in Suit No. AB/3/71, once again they lost in the Judgment delivered on the 25th day of March 1974”
It restated that still not satisfied, the Ogwor people (hereafter ‘Ogwor’ where the content permits) appealed to the Court of Appeal Enugu in Appeal No. FCA/E/201/81 and, again, lost in the judgment delivered on the 1st day of July 1987.
When contacted, the Chairman of Ivo local government Hon Emmanuel Ogbona Aja, declined comment, insisting that Governor Nwifuru was already handling the matter.
It would be noted that the communal crisis that erupted between Umubor Akaeze and Ogwor Ishiagu, has claimed several lives, with the state government declaring the land a buffer zone.
