A long-running land dispute in Delta State has taken a dramatic turn as representatives of Maltek Resources Nigeria Limited accused certain individuals, community actors, and security operatives of frustrating the enforcement of valid court judgments relating to vast portions of land in the Amachai Quarters, Okpanam Community, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State.
Speaking during a press briefing, real estate consultant and attorney to Maltek Resources, Emeka Samuel Morah, alongside private legal practitioner Barrister Emeka Okonkwo, alleged that despite several court victories, police investigations, and legal verifications, the company has continued to face intimidation, petitions, arrests of workers, and resistance while attempting to take possession of lands legally awarded to it.
According to the speakers, the dispute originated from a communal crisis that divided the Amachai community into two factions — Group A and Group B — sometime before 2009.
During the period of unrest, both factions reportedly sold portions of communal land to various individuals and corporate organisations. Group B allegedly sold large portions of land to Maltek Resources and other investors.
To resolve the crisis, community leaders initiated a customary arbitration process supervised by respected traditional authorities, including the late Umu of Okpanam and the community’s traditional leadership. Both factions voluntarily submitted to the arbitration and signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing to be bound by the outcome.
Under the arbitration arrangement, lands were reportedly shared among the parties. Individuals who lost loved ones during the communal crisis were allocated five acres each, while four villages within the community received approximately 250 acres each. Young adults in the community were also allocated portions of land.
Most importantly, according to the legal representatives, all lands previously sold by either faction before the arbitration were validated and ceased to form part of communal land.
However, despite agreeing to the arbitration terms, some members of Group A later approached the High Court seeking to invalidate lands sold by Group B, including lands acquired by Maltek Resources.
Barrister Emeka Okonkwo explained that the High Court dismissed the claims brought against Group B and instead upheld the customary arbitration as binding on all parties.
“The court validated the arbitration and confirmed the sales made to third parties, including Maltek Resources Nigeria Limited,” he said.
According to him, the court also granted a perpetual injunction restraining the opposing parties from interfering with lands belonging to Group B and those deriving title from them.
The dissatisfied parties subsequently filed an appeal, but later applied to withdraw it after briefs had already been exchanged at the Court of Appeal.
“The appeal was eventually dismissed, and legally that brought finality to the matter,” Okonkwo stated.
Following the dismissal, Maltek Resources reportedly applied for possession and execution of the judgment. Court officials allegedly carried out the execution process, placed the company in possession of the disputed land, and issued a Certificate of Execution confirming compliance with the court order.
Morah said the company subsequently approached the Inspector General of Police for security support to enable it to peacefully take possession of and develop the property.
According to him, the Force Headquarters directed extensive legal and investigative reviews into the company’s claims, court judgments, execution orders, and land documents.
“The police investigated, the Force Legal Department reviewed everything, and the court documents were verified and confirmed to be genuine and valid,” Morah said.
Despite these developments, the dispute allegedly escalated further with repeated petitions accusing the company and its representatives of unlawful activities, including claims that some structures belonging to one Hajia Halima were destroyed during clearing operations on the land.
However, the legal team insisted that police investigations found no evidence against the company and that certified true copies of investigation reports and legal advice from the police authorities cleared Maltek Resources of wrongdoing.
The press conference also featured allegations against certain unnamed influential individuals, retired and serving security personnel, and community actors accused of attempting to frustrate the execution of the judgment for personal interests linked to ongoing land sales in the area.
Morah further alleged that a caterpillar operator engaged to clear portions of the land was arrested, detained, and charged in court despite acting under lawful authority connected to the execution of the judgment.
According to him, the Directorate of Public Prosecutions later found that the operator had no case to answer, leading to his discharge after spending over two months in detention.
The attorney also alleged that lives had been lost over the years as a result of tensions surrounding the disputed property.
“A lot of people have died in that area because some people do not want the truth to come out,” he alleged, adding that attempts had also allegedly been made on his life because of his involvement in the matter.
He maintained that Maltek Resources is not carrying out fresh execution on the property but merely exercising rights already granted by the courts.
“We are already in lawful possession. We are simply trying to enjoy the fruits of a valid judgment,” Morah stated.
The legal representatives called on the Delta State Government, the Inspector General of Police, and relevant security agencies to continue protecting lawful owners and enforcing court judgments.
They also warned that individuals allegedly spreading false claims or frustrating the enforcement process could face legal action.
Meanwhile, efforts to reach Friday Okonkwo, one of the individuals repeatedly mentioned during the briefing, for his reaction to the allegations were unsuccessful. Calls placed to his known telephone lines were neither answered nor returned as of the time of filing this report.
Below are some of the documents:
