The Management of Seplat Energy and leaders of the Orogho community have been summoned by the Edo House of Assembly on Monday regarding a land dispute.
According to the News Agency of Nigeria, the community’s leaders had previously submitted a petition to the House, asking them to prevent Edo land from being given to Delta due to the actions of the company that operates on the land.
During the assembly session, the House Standing Committee Chairman on Chieftaincy and Community Affairs, Nosayaba Okunbor (PDP- Orhiomwon East), presented the report of the committee that had investigated the petition. The assembly was requested to review the report.
Okunbor stated that the committee’s research discovered that the land on which the firm was operating belonged to Edo, as evidenced by documents obtained from National Boundary Commission and Edo Geographic Information System.
According to Okunbor, the investigation showed that Seplat Energy paid royalties to the Delta State Government instead of Edo.
During the assembly session, the speaker Marcus Onobun commented on the investigation’s findings and emphasized that no organization should create conflict between the two sister states.
Onobun said, “no organisation would be allowed to set the two sister states against each other.”
As a response to the dispute, the assembly instructed the Clerk of the House, Mr Yahaya Omogbai, to communicate in writing to the management of the firm and Orogho community. The letter should request them to meet with the lawmakers on April 13.
The assembly also established a business calendar of 49 sitting days for the fourth quarter of the fourth session of the seventh assembly.
The Majority Leader Henry Okhuarobo, moved the motion for the calendar to be adopted, stating that “the house would sit for 14 days in April, 23 days in May and 12 days in June.”
The motion was seconded by Sunny Ojiezele (PDP-Esan South East), and the assembly subsequently adopted the business calendar.
NAN
