Fresh concerns have emerged over the enforcement of court judgements and the alleged misuse of security agencies following the burning of a D7 Buldoza earth moving equipment belonging to Chimartins Consultant Asaba amid a long-running land dispute in Amachai Quarter, Okpanam Community, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
The incident, which occurred at night, has been linked by community members and victims to resistance against the execution of a subsisting court judgement that reportedly awarded ownership of a vast expanse of land to Group B of the Amachai community.
The Incident: Equipment Destroyed After Threats
Mr. Orji Martins Chinedu, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Chimartins Consultant, said his company’s machine was deployed to a work site belonging to Amachai Group B in Okpanam but was later removed from the site and safely parked along Issele-Azagba Road. Despite this, the payloader was allegedly attacked and set ablaze by suspected Amachai youths who arrived on five motorcycles.
According to Chinedu, prior to the attack, he received repeated threats from DSP Charles Mordi and Alhajia Halima, warning him to remove the machine from the site. He said he instructed his operator to withdraw the equipment to avoid confrontation. Despite this, Chinedu alleged that he was arrested, even though the matter remains pending before a court. Shortly after, unknown youths reportedly stormed the area at night, vandalized the payloader, and set it ablaze.
An eyewitness, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said he saw the youths damage the machine before setting it on fire, raising questions about prior intelligence, security presence, and possible complicity.
See the video of the burnt pay loader:
Investigations further reveal that this is the same land dispute that allegedly led to the transfer of DSP Charles Mordi to Abuja. Despite his transfer, sources claim Mordi continues to operate in Delta State and is allegedly partaking in land-grabbing activities while working with individuals opposed to Group B’s lawful ownership.
A Land Dispute Spanning Years
The destruction of the payloader is not an isolated incident but part of a broader conflict tied to a disputed parcel of land measuring approximately 1,800 plots in Amachai, Okpanam.
Court documents cited by Group B indicate that while 300 to 400 plots were previously allocated to Group A through a court decision, Group A allegedly sold off its portion and continued to sell land belonging to Group B. This development triggered years of litigation.
Group B challenged the alleged encroachment at the High Court and won. Appeals filed by Group A were dismissed, including at the Court of Appeal, effectively exhausting available legal remedies short of the Supreme Court.
Following the appellate court’s dismissal, Group B applied for and was granted possession of the land. The order was executed with court officials and security personnel, and the land was officially marked.
Security Withdrawal and Rising Tensions
However, Group B alleged that security personnel were later withdrawn after what they described as misinformation was provided to security agencies. Despite the withdrawal, legal experts consulted by this reporter confirmed that a valid court judgement and possession order remain enforceable unless set aside by a superior court.
Legal representatives of Group B argue that any new suits filed in lower courts amount to an abuse of court process, insisting that only the Supreme Court can entertain further appeals. Following the withdrawal of security, tensions escalated.
Allegations of Intimidation and Police Interference
Members of Group B alleged that attempts to enforce the court order were met with intimidation, harassment, and arrests. Some individuals involved in executing the judgement, including those who leased construction equipment, were reportedly detained.
One equipment owner was allegedly remanded in custody until a prison visit by a judge revealed that there was no case against him, leading to his release.
It was also alleged that DSP Charles Mordi unlawfully held a piece of construction equipment for over one year before it was eventually released. Community sources say threats were later issued against the use of the equipment, culminating in its destruction. Mordi is further accused of colluding with land grabbers to frustrate Group B’s lawful execution of their court-awarded land.
Community Leaders Speak
The Diokpa of Group B Amachai, Paul Oburotha, said the dispute had been conclusively settled by the courts and accused certain individuals of deliberately undermining the rule of law.
According to Oburotha, Group B never agreed to earlier proposals to divide the land and pursued justice through lawful means, including petitions and court appearances up to Abuja. He alleged that DSP Charles Mordi emboldened youths to disrupt activities on the land despite repeated warnings that the matter had been settled, and continued to connive with land grabbers in Delta State despite his official transfer to Abuja.
He linked the burning of equipment directly to continued resistance against the court judgement.
Nonso Agala, another member of Group B, said the community has been unable to enjoy a judgement obtained as far back as 2020. He alleged that members of the group were attacked whenever they attempted to access the land.
Agala accused DSP Charles Mordi, Alhajia Halima, and Friday Okonkwo of coordinating intimidation and continued land sales. He said Mordi routinely interfered with cases involving Group B at the police headquarters, preventing such matters from reaching the Commissioner of Police. He further alleged that Alhajia Halima brings buyers to continue selling the disputed land, while Friday Okonkwo allegedly issued repeated threats against allowing the payloader to work on the land, warning that “something worse” would happen.
He claimed these threats culminated in the burning of the payloader.
Calls for Accountability
Group B has petitioned the Delta State Government, the Commissioner of Police, and the Inspector-General of Police, insisting that authorities in Abuja are fully aware of the case.
They are demanding an independent investigation into:
The burning of the payloader
Alleged wrongful arrests and detentions
The withdrawal of security despite a valid court order
Allegations of police interference and abuse of power, including DSP Charles Mordi’s role
Community leaders warn that failure to enforce the judgement could undermine public confidence in the judiciary and encourage lawlessness.
Efforts to reach DSP Charles Mordi, Alhajia Halima, and Friday Okonkwo for comment were unsuccessful, as no direct contact details were available at the time of filing this report.
The disputed land is located in Amachai Quarter, Okpanam Community, Oshimili North Local Government Area of Delta State.
