Court bars sale of disputed Jeddo land, orders status quo

A High Court sitting in Orerokpe has restrained all parties involved in a protracted land dispute in Jeddo, Okpe Local Government Area, from carrying out any transaction on the property pending the determination of the suit.

Presiding judge, Justice Joe Egwu, granted the interlocutory injunction in Suit No. HOR/L/26/2025, ordering parties to maintain the status quo.

The court specifically barred the sale, further sale, or any form of alienation of the disputed land, warning that any violation of the order would have legal consequences.

The suit was filed by Omose Ideh, Andrew Ideh and Godspower Ideh, representing members of the Arowhodaye group of the Omorhan family.

In his ruling, Justice Egwu emphasised the need to preserve the subject matter of the litigation, stating that all parties, their agents and privies must refrain from dealing with the land until the case is resolved.

Legal practitioners say such injunctions also serve as a caution to third parties, including prospective buyers and developers, that any transaction conducted on the land during the pendency of the case is at their own risk.

The disputed parcels reportedly cover several areas in Jeddo, including Osurode, Abonua, Adarudjon, Ikperemuta Phase IV, Adi-Jeddo, Iro Phase One, Ugbenu and Ugbogwan.

The claimants, through their counsel, G.J. Ikpesu, are seeking declarations on entitlement to the family land, nullification of alleged unauthorised sales, equitable partitioning of the land, and an account of proceeds from previous transactions.

The matter has been adjourned to April 2, 2026, for hearing.

The dispute, which involves the prominent Omorhan family, is said to stem from longstanding disagreements over land ownership, allocation and sharing of proceeds, with observers noting that the outcome of the case could shape future land administration within the family.