‘Court Didn’t Cede Disputed Land To Isegba Obba Family’

The representatives of Sarkin Noma, Kporoka and Danko Areas of Lokoja have debunked what it described as malicious misinformation in circulation that the High Court of Kotonkarfi has declared ownership and control of the disputed Areas in the said location in Lokoja in favour of Isegba Obba Family of Felele.

According to them, the High Court of Justice, sitting at Kotonkarfi, delivered a judgment in the suit commenced by representatives of Sarkin Noma, Kporoka, and Danko Areas of Lokoja, Kog, State against Isegba/Obba Family of Felele, in which the court declined jurisdiction.

In a statement signed by Barrister Katu Abdullahi Sule, Esq, lead counsel to the claimants, the narrative is incorrect, misleading, and capable of breaching the age-long peace and harmonious coexistence in Lokoja and its environs.

“Today being 9” April 2025, the High Court of Justice, sitting at Koton Karfe, delivered a judgment in the suit commenced by representatives of Sarkin Noma, Kporoka and Danko Areas of Lokoja, Kog: State against Isegba/Obba Family of Felele wherein the court declined jurisdiction in the suit.

“Regrettably, our attention has been drawn to the malicious misinformation in circulation that the court declared ownership and control of the Identified Areas in favour of the Isegba Obba Family of Felele.

“This is incorrect, misleading, and capable of breaching the age-long peace and harmonious coexistence in Lokoja and its environs.

“Consequently, we seek to clarify the following to set the record straight.

“The Representatives of Sarkin Noma, Kporoka and Danko Areas of Lokoja, Kogi State approached the High Court of Justice, sitting at Koton Karfe, for the determination of the effect of earlier judgments of the Court obtained in the absence of the claimant’s communities who are in actual possession and control of the lands since time immemorial.

“This is because, since the judgments were obtained against strangers, and not any members of Sarkin Noma, Kproka, and Danko Areas of Lokoja, Kogi State, the Ilsegba/Obba Family of Felele cannot seek to enforce them against the communities above who were not parties to the suits. Invariably, it is common logic that ‘you can’t shave a man’s head behind him’.

He said that in determining the suit, without getting into details or the merit of the case, the court, in its wisdom, considered that since the earlier decisions in the aforementioned cases were decided by courts of coordinate jurisdiction, it would be inappropriate for it to comment on the details of the case. This is because courts of coordinate jurisdictions are deemed to be the same and should not be seen as reviewing their decisions.

He noted that the Court then observed that the effects of the decisions paraded by the Isegba/Obba Family of Felele can only be determined by the Court of Appeal, which is a superior court to the High Court of Justice, whose decisions are paraded.

“For the avoidance of doubt, we wish to reiterate clearly that the High Court of Justice Koton-Karfe, in its judgment delivered today, Wednesday, the 9th day of April 2025, did not make any declaration of ownership or title to land in favour of Isegba/Obba Family of Felele or anyone else.

“Additionally, the court awarded no cost for the lasagna/Obba Family of Felele as it is being illegally peddled around.

“It is on the foregoing that we invite all well-meaning citizens to disregard the narratives that have been put in the public domain by members of the lasagna/Obba Family of Felele or anyone else suggesting that the court declared or affirmed their rights of ownership over the land and waters.

“We implore everyone to remain calm and conduct their lawful businesses accordingly.