Ogwashi-Uku Palace Defends Land Recovery, Accuses Speculators of Smear Campaign
The Palace of the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, His Royal Majesty Ifechukwude Aninshi Okonjo II, has strongly defended its ongoing communal land recovery projects, describing recent allegations against the monarch as a coordinated smear campaign by vested interests threatened by reforms in the kingdom’s land administration.
In a statement issued by the Palace Communications Directorate, the Palace said the negative reports, including allegations of kidnapping, murder, illegal land sales and forced evictions, were “recycled rubbish” sponsored by individuals and groups who allegedly profited from irregular and unlawful transactions involving communal lands in Ogwashi-Uku.
According to the statement, the Palace under the leadership of the Obi has embarked on efforts to restore transparency, legality and accountability in the management of ancestral lands, insisting that the reforms are aimed at protecting communal assets for public development and future generations.
The Palace maintained that courts have consistently upheld the Obi’s authority as custodian of communal lands, noting that every major land dispute involving the kingdom has ended in judicial victories for the Palace.
Responding to allegations that communal lands were sold to foreign interests, particularly Chinese nationals, the Palace described the claims as false and malicious. It also denied reports of harassment or forced eviction of local farmers, stating that the monarch had already initiated legal action against one of the accusers, identified as Victor Ochei, over alleged cyberstalking and defamation.
The statement further revealed that the Palace had recovered over 1,300 hectares of land through court judgments and execution of warrants of possession. The recovered land, according to the Palace, had originally been reserved for the proposed Anioma University of Science and Technology by the late Obi of Ogwashi-Uku, Prof. Chukwuka Okonjo.
The Palace also disclosed that another 900 hectares of land located behind the Delta State Polytechnic had been reclaimed following a High Court judgment which reaffirmed the Obi’s overlordship over the area. It stated that attempts by estate developers, including PWAN Group and other encroachers, were dismissed by the court before possession was peacefully restored to the kingdom in August 2025.
On allegations that the monarch unlawfully allocated communal land to a top Delta State government official, the Palace dismissed the claim as baseless, pointing out that the Obi is currently in court seeking to nullify what it described as an unauthorized transfer of communal land linked to the same official.
The Palace accused critics of deliberately pushing a false “land grabbing” narrative to undermine lawful reforms and frustrate efforts to recover lands allegedly taken over by speculators.
It added that the recovered lands are being preserved for developmental purposes including schools, hospitals, agriculture and industrial projects that would benefit the entire Ogwashi-Uku community.
Highlighting what it described as tangible progress under the current administration, the Palace said nearly 2,000 indigenes of Ogwashi-Uku had already received free land allocations, with more distributions planned for individuals and institutions.
Reaffirming its commitment to transparency and the rule of law, the Palace said the Obi of Ogwashi-Uku would not be intimidated by blackmail or sponsored attacks, stressing that the monarch remains focused on protecting the ancestral heritage and long-term prosperity of the kingdom.
The statement called on indigenes of Ogwashi-Uku and the general public to disregard what it termed malicious propaganda and remain supportive of the Palace’s efforts to reclaim and safeguard communal inheritance.
