Mbachume land dispute: Adejoh denies using Benue govt to harass villagers

Benue-born businessman Peter Adejoh has testified before a Benue State High Court in Makurdi that he has never acquired land in his personal name in Mbachume community of Bar Council Ward in Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State in an ongoing land dispute case .

While testifying before Justice Tertsea Kume in suit No: MHC/179/23, Adejoh stated, under cross-examination from the plaintiffs’ counsel, Mbafan Ekpendu, that he does not own any land in that community in his personal capacity.

“I do not personally own any land in Mbachume community. It is a housing estate project for public use between a company I represent, BMC Homes Limited, and the Benue State Government. Personally, as Peter Adejoh, I do not own any land in Mbachume,” he stated.

Adejoh also informed the court that he was unaware of the alleged destruction of economic trees, farms, and properties on the disputed land as claimed by the plaintiffs.

He denied conspiring with the Benue State Government, the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, or the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Benue State, to harass or arrest anyone on the disputed land.

The defendant further denied the allegation that the Benue State Government sold the land to him in his personal capacity and stated that he has never held any meetings with the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals regarding this matter.

Adejoh also denied personally engaging anyone to use bulldozers or other heavy equipment to destroy or grade the farmland, crops, and economic trees belonging to the plaintiffs.

In their suit, Messrs. Abraham Uwua, Terlumun Tyav, and Terwase Zeku, suing on behalf of themselves and Tse-Agbuu, along with Pastor Cyprian Terwase, suing on behalf of himself and Ikyov/Mbachume, alleged that the Benue State Government intends to compulsorily acquire their ancestral land and sell it to a developer without providing any form of compensation.

The plaintiffs are seeking an order of interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants, their agents, privies, associates, or anyone acting on their behalf from compulsorily taking over the communal land located at Tse Agbuu, Mbachugh, Utur Community, and Ikyov/Mbachugh, Utur Community, all within Bar Council Ward of Makurdi Local Government Area of Benue State, for any purpose other than overriding public interest.

The matter has been adjourned to November 28, 2024, for the Benue State Government to open its defense.