HomeFeaturesRivers Govt Testifies In Ibeto Vs Dozzy Oil Land Dispute

Rivers Govt Testifies In Ibeto Vs Dozzy Oil Land Dispute

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Proceedings on the civil suit brought against Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited and SunGreen Oil and Gas Limited (a sister company to Dozzy Oil and Gas Limited) by Cletus Ibeto on Friday continued sitting at the Rivers State High Court in Port Harcourt, with Justice Adolphus Enebeli presiding to further hear as the Ministry of Lands and Survey testified.

The Rivers State Ministry of Lands and Survey official was summoned to testify over the ownership of the land, and he was cross-examined.

The former Registrar of Titles, Ministry of Lands, Rivers State, Mr. Henry Uzor, mounted the witness box, where he confirmed that he wrote series of letters to Ibeto including the letter that ordered Ibeto to return his Certified True Copy of the documents that were certified for him in ‘error’.

Recall that during the cross-examination of the claimant (Ibeto) by the defence counsel, Emmanuel Ukala, SAN, he admitted to have received the letters from the State Government, but he ignored the order.

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Uzor, who was also cross-examined by the defence counsel, Onyechi Ikpeazu, SAN, reiterated that Sungreen Oil and Gas Limited, Dozzy Oil ( a sister company), is the rightful owner of the lands as contained in the State Lands records.

The witness said that it was the duty of Deputy Registrar of Deeds (DRD) to examine the location of the subject matter of the deed and reflect on all the information contained therein.

He told the court that a Certified True Copy of a document is the same as Original Copy, and the Registry Department in the Ministry of Lands cannot register a document with conflicting information and does not amend documents.

Uzor debunked the allegation put to him by the claimant’s lawyer, that he was one of the officials of the Ministry of Lands whom his client (Ibeto) claimed that colluded with the defendant to cheat him.

Meanwhile, further witness hearing was stalled following failure of the second defence witness from the Ministry of Lands and Survey to be in court with relevant files.

The case was adjourned till March 7, 2023, for continuation of examination and cross-examination.

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