What started as a simple transaction a few years ago over a piece of land along Ibusa-Asaba bypass is now the subject of blackmail and unending legal battle

At 69, Patrick Okolie should be enjoying the fruit of his labour after retiring from the services of the now defunct Bendel State. But rather than doing that, Okolie, now a grandfather, is behind bars at the Kirikiri Maximum Security Prison in Apapa, Lagos. He was alleged to have been in possession of arms and ammunitions. He was also alleged to have shielded his cousin, Odafe Chime, who allegedly attempted to kill Abayomi Akinlaja, a police officer, while doing his lawful duty.

He was initially detained at Ibusa Police station but was transferred to the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, SARS, in Lagos State. Since October 25, 2008, he has been the guest of the police. He was temporarily released in December and was again arrested on January 20. Few days after his arrest, he was arraigned in a Lagos Magistrate Court on an 11-count charge. He pleaded not guilty to the charges, but was remanded in Kirikiri Prison.

Chukwuemeka Okolie, his son, had been battling to secure his bail. Okolie junior told Newswatch that his father is a victim of spurious allegations allegedly fuelled by Peter Okeze, a prominent Ibusa indigene, whom he alleged has forcefully taken over several plots of land belonging to the Chime family of Ibusa. “My father stood as surety to Emmanuel Chime who was illegally arrested and detained for refusing to give up his claim on his family land and that explains my father’s ordeal.”

Newswatch learnt that the dispute started in May 2007, when Thomas Chike Chime approached Okeze to buy his land situated near Atakpo stream, along Ibusa-Asaba bypass for N3 million. Okeze offered N2.5 million for the land and Chime accepted. An initial payment of N1.5 million was made into Chime’s account at Bank PHB. The balance of N1million was later paid by Okeze to Chime.

But when Emmanuel Chime, son of Chike Chime, learnt of the transaction, he kicked against it. He had raised objections on the grounds that the land sold to Okeze was different from the one he was laying claim to. Chime junior told Newswatch that he and some of his relatives declined to sign the deed of conveyance for the sale of the land but were forced at gunpoint to put pen to paper. “Some members of the family refused to sign the deed of conveyance that would transfer ownership of the land to Okeze. But when it became apparent that I may be killed, I signed the necessary papers under duress,” Chime told Newswatch.

He said as the caretaker of the family land, he instituted a case against Okeze in court only for the police and other security agents in the state to start threatening him and his family. “I had to go underground in order to save my life,” he said.

Chime claimed that he and Ifeyinwa Chime, his wife, were arrested and detained by the police on trumped up charges. While Chime was charged to a magistrate court for theft and obtaining money under false pretences, Ifeyinwa, his wife, was charged for attempted murder.

But Okeze, in an interview with Newswatch, described Chime, Chukwuemeka Okolie and his father as liars who were out to destroy his hard earned name. He said he legitimately bought the land from Emmanuel’s father after paying N2.5 million. “I was in my house when Chime’s father came to me, pleading that I should buy his plots of land as he was in need of money. And because he has six wives and many children to feed, I agreed to buy the land for N2.5 million. But few days after, another branch of the Chime’s family called Halims came out, claiming to be the true owners of the same land,” he said. Okeze said he was once again forced to pay another sum of N2.5 million to the Halims family.

He told Newswatch that he had to pay another N15 million to the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN, to remove electricity cables that pass through the land before he could move in to take possession of the land.

He said it was at this stage that Emmanuel took the matter to court where he sought an injunction restraining him from taking possession of the land. “Again the court judgement was in my favour as his prayer for an injunction restraining me from the land was refused,” he said.

A High Court in Delta State, in Akwukwu-Igbo judicial division, presided over by Justice Phil Obanor, on May 25, last year, refused to grant the prayer of Emmanuel Chime. In the judgement, Justice Obanor noted that an interlocutory injunction is for an act that has already been carried out and that the remedy for interlocutory injunction is an equitable one and equity does nothing in vain.

Okeze described Okolie Snr as a serial petition writer who, in the past, wrote several petitions against prominent Ibusa indigenes including his own family members.

He alleged that Okolie and a known 419 kingpin in the state were the ones instigating Emmanuel Chime against him as they now believe that “the land is worth several millions of naira now.”

He said Chike Chime from whom he bought the land had already apologised to him and dissociated himself from the action taken by his son.

Okeze said Okolie senior is now trapped in his own evil machination as the Civil Liberty Organisation, CLO, a non-governmental organisation, whose letterheaded papers he uses to write his numerous petitions has dissociated itself from him. “He goes about parading himself as a member of the CLO but the organisation has already disowned him,” Okeze said.

Festus Keyamo, a Lagos-based lawyer, early this year, wrote to the CLO to confirm whether Okolie was its representative in Ibusa. The CLO, in a reply to Keyamo’s letter, denied ever having any relationship with Okolie. The letter, dated January 13, and signed by Ibuchukwu Ezike, acting executive director, CLO, stated that it has no relationship, partnership or affiliation of any sort with Ibusa group which Okolie claimed to lead.

Okeze vowed that he would not give up his title on the land no matter the provocation. He said the intention of those sponsoring Emmanuel Chime was to dent his name. “I have been in business for over 30 years. My contributions to Ibusa and Delta State are unparalleled. But God will not let them succeed in denting my name and reputation,” he said.