Delta Court Sentences Two Men Over Land Dispute, Orders

The Delta State Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Oleh has sentenced two residents of Enhwe community in Isoko South Local Government Area, Friday Meeting and Abednego Onoshoko, popularly known as “Abobe”, to three years imprisonment with hard labour or the option of a N50,000 fine each, following their conviction in a land dispute case involving the malicious destruction of property.

Key Highlights

• Delta Chief Magistrates’ Court convicts two men over a land dispute in Isoko South.
• Defendants sentenced to three years’ imprisonment with hard labour or an option of a N50,000 fine each.
• Court orders payment of N480,000 compensation for 1,600 damaged blocks.
• Conviction covers conspiracy, malicious damage, breach of peace, and obstruction of justice.
• Court finds prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The judgment followed the trial of the defendants in Suit No. MCO/67C/2024, in which they were arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, malicious damage to property, breach of peace, and obstruction of justice under the Criminal Code Laws of Delta State.

According to the prosecution, the offences stemmed from a land dispute between the defendants and Mr. Idisi Ewomazino, during which 1,600 blocks belonging to the complainant were allegedly destroyed.

The charges included:

• Conspiracy, contrary to Section 516 of the Criminal Code Cap C21, Volume 1, Laws of Delta State, 2006.
• Malicious damage to property, contrary to Section 451 of the Criminal Code.
• Breach of peace by entering land in the lawful possession of the complainant, contrary to Section 81 of the Criminal Code.
• Obstruction of justice, contrary to Section 120(2) of the Criminal Code Law of Delta State.

The defendants pleaded not guilty to all four charges and testified in their own defence, while also calling three additional witnesses during the trial.

The case was concluded on February 24, 2026, before Chief Magistrate O. M. Omonemu (Mrs.), who held that the prosecution had successfully established all the ingredients of the offences beyond reasonable doubt.

Delivering judgment, the magistrate stated:

“From the totality of the evidence before me, the prosecution has been able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt and is entitled to convictions on Counts I, II, III and IV.”

The court subsequently found both defendants guilty on all four counts.

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Following the judgment, counsel to the defendants appealed for leniency, citing the fact that they were first-time offenders.

In her ruling on sentencing, Chief Magistrate Omonemu exercised discretion by giving the convicts the option of paying fines instead of serving prison terms.

The court ordered both defendants to:

• Pay N480,000 as compensation to the complainant, Mr. Idisi Ewomazino, for the destruction of his blocks.
• Pay N50,000 each as fines to the Delta State Government.

The court ruled that failure to comply with the financial penalties would result in each defendant serving three years’ imprisonment with hard labour.