![Trouble For Obaseki, Set To Appear Before ECOWAS Court [Details]](https://infopowerng.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/276022F8-9521-4B61-9523-F0232CDB5435.jpeg)
A lawsuit has been filed against Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki over his administration’s attempt to forcefully take over forest reserves in some communities in Edo state.
No fewer than 45 agrarian communities whose forest reserves are at risk of a government takeover filed a joint suit before the Community Court of Justice of Economic Communities of West African States (ECOWAS) in Abuja.
It was gathered that the lawsuit with the reference number; ECW/CCJ/APP/22/22 was tabled before the court on Wednesday, May 11 by the Incorporated Trustees of the Okpamakhin Community Initiative (first plaintiff), a non-governmental organisation (NGO) comprising farmers and other land users drawn from the cluster communities (clans) of Orhue, Ozalla, Ora, Iuleha, Sobe and others.
It was gathered that the second plaintiffs are eight farmers and land users of the forest zone in the soon-to-be-affected communities.
It will be recalled that few months back, the governor made an announcement stating that his administration has earmarked several forests reserved for a palm oil project in collaboration with the Central Bank (CBN) which will amount to N69 billion to set up the project.
A sequel to this announcement prompted the coalition of some relevant stakeholders to institute the suit against the governor.
It was gathered that in a lawsuit of this caliber, the statutory defendant is the federal government which will stand in for the state government because of the stipulations guiding the ECOWAS court.
As contained in the suit, the plaintiffs prayed to the court to help protect their ancestral possession against the administration of Governor Obaseki which had been ceded to private investors without prior notification of consent.
Similarly, part of the prayer wants the court to issue an order that will stop Obaseki from forceful takeover.
It was also gathered that the land within the two forest reserves of Owan BC 10 Forest Reserve and Iuleha/Ora/Ozalla, forming a larger part of the Owan Forest Zone, are the communities’ mainstay acquired by the British colonial government, which was duly accountable to local communities, owners of the land, unlike the Edo government that is acting with flagrant disregard.
