From Scholastica Hir, Makurdi
A witness identified as Paul Amokaha, on Wednesday told a Makurdi High Court that all the averment in his witness statement were based on what he heard from Alexius Ayabam and not what he witnessed.
Mr Amokaha who is also a co-plaintiff in the land suit instituted by Alexius Ayabam who was earlier led in evidence by his counsel, Gabriel Akponko had adopted his witness statement wherein he stated that a certain Engr. Michael Jijingi acting on the behest of Dr Peter Adejoh brought bulldozers and heavily armed soldier men and forcefully commenced work on Ayabam’s land.
While under cross examination from counsel to the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, Benue State, the Governor of Benue State and the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Benue State, Mr Emmanuel Kpojime, the witness, Mr Amokaha said all that he deposed to in his witness statement was based on what he heard from Mr Ayabam.
Still under cross examination from Mr Kpojime, Mr Amokaha said he didn’t see staff or agents of the Benue State Government with heavily armed soldiers on Ayabam’s land, adding that what he said was based on what he heard.
When asked where he signed his witness statement, Mr Amokaha told the court that he signed his witness statement in the office of his lawyer.
After listening to the first witness of the plaintiff, the Presiding Judge, Justice Theresa Igoche, thereafter adjourned the matter to October 8, 2024, for continuation of hearing.
In suit No: MHC/161/2023, Mr Ayabam averred that he is the customary owner of a land at Tse-Kamange village in Utur, Bar Council ward in Makurdi Local Government Area.
He alleged that on April 21, 2023, Engr. Michael Jijjingi acting on the behest of Dr. Peter Adejoh encroached on the land with bulldozers in company of heavily armed soldiers and entered forcefully the land, destroyed economic trees without the consent of Mr Ayabam.
Mr Ayabam alleged that when Engr. Jijingi, who took the bulldozers to the land was approached, Engr. Jijingi told them that his client has title over the land and the documents were issued by the Ministry of Lands, Survey and Solid Minerals, Benue State.
In his reply to the suit, Dr. Peter Adejoh denied that Engr Jijingi has never at any material time his personal agent, neither has he ever in the company of Engr. Jijingi or through anyone ever trespassed into any land belonging to Ayabam with bulldozer and commenced work thereon.
Dr. Adejoh also prayed the court to put Ayabam to strict proof of his allegations.
He also averred that the suit is speculative, vexatious, over-reaching and misleading, and he is joined in the suit with the aim of harassing, embarrassing and molesting him.