The Rivers State House of Assembly has reversed ownership of the 868 plots of land occupied by Daar Communications along the NTA road in the Obio Akpor Local Government Area of the state.
The decision was following a report presented during plenary by the Assembly House Committee on Public Complains and Petitions, which investigated land acquisition petitions against the company by four host communities.
It was alleged that the company founded by High Chief Raymond Dokpesi, a chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), had no valid title to continue to occupy the land.
In the petition by four host communities including Ozuoba, Rumuosi, Rumuekini, and Rumuokwashi, all in Obio/Akpor, the petitioners said the Rivers State Government had in 1973, acquired for public use over 316 acres of land situated along NTA/Choba Road.
Presenting the report, the Chairman of the House committee, Evans Bipi, told the Assembly that the petition committee had interfaced with every relevant stakeholder in order to ascertain the true position of things.
According to him, “the committee after several meetings with both parties and further engaging with the permanent secretary Lands and Survey and also the Surveyor-General of the state, further proceeded on Friday 22nd July 2022 with all the parties to Daar Communications PLC, managers of Africa Independent Television (AIT) location at Ozuoba and made relevant findings.”
He said the committee in its findings noted that said land at Ozuoba community belongs to the Rivers State government and not the petitioners, because the property was acquired by the Rivers State Government and due compensation had been given to all affected communities.
Conclusively, Bipi said the ownership of the 860 plots of land has been revoked from Daar Communications and returned to Rivers State Government over wrongful acquisition.
Speaker of the House, Ikuinyi Awaji-Ibani, urged the media group to open fresh negotiations with the State Government on the property.
Meanwhile, there are indications that the development is linked to the current crisis rocking the PDP.
