Land dispute: Court orders Ifa to vacate Ibiaku Issiet land

The Akwa Ibom State High Court sitting in Uyo has ordered Ifa Ikot Akpan village, Etoi clan in Uyo local government to vacate some plots of land currently used as ‘keke’ park in the area to the rightful owners, Ibiaku Issiet community in Uruan Local Government Area.

The two neighbouring communities had been locked in a dispute over the plot of land called “Idim Uduok” which, according to the people of Ibiaku Issiet, their forefathers had planted a boundary tree called ‘Akono’ which is at the boundary till date.

Giving a judgment on the suit filed by Eteidung Edem Aniedi Ebong and four others on behalf of Ifa Ikot Akpan village, Justice Charles Ikpe said the plaintiffs’ suit lacked merit and they failed to prove their case.

The suit No. HU/71/2017 was therefore dismissed and the cost of N40,000 was awarded to the defendants, Ibiaku Issiet community.

According to Justice Ikpe, the court considered “the submission of the counsel for the claimants and that of counsel for the defendants, processes filed by the respective counsel, evidence of witnesses, exhibits tendered in this proceeding and the final written addresses filed by the respective counsel.

“It is ordered that the plaintiffs’ suit lacks merit, fails and is accordingly dismissed with N40,000 only as cost in favour of the defendants.”

The court also declared that all parcel of land which presently make up the ‘keke’ motor park in the area that claimants earlier leased to Gitto Construction Limited belongs to Ibiaku Issiet community.

Reacting to the judgement, the village head of Ibiaku Issiet, Chief William Effiong Etim, said the judgment of the state High Court is nothing but the truth that prevailed against falsehood, adding that right from the time of their forefathers, the boundary between Ibiaku Issiet community and Ifa Ikot Akpan had always been Idim Uduok where the boundary tree is planted.