The Umu-Isegbe Family of Idumute Village in Ekwuoma, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State has issued a public disclaimer distancing itself from alleged sales, gifts, allocations, acquisitions, or grabbing of its ancestral land by individuals or groups.
In a statement signed by the Chairman of the Umu-Isegbe Welfare Association/Union (Home and in Diaspora), Charles I. Nwokolo, the family said it had never authorised the sale or transfer of any portion of its ancestral land, except areas historically occupied by certain families with the permission of its forefathers and a specific parcel gifted to Mr. Akas Asielue.
The family said rumours and reports of land transactions involving Umu-Isegbe property had prompted the public notice, stressing that any claims of ownership arising from such transactions were not recognised or approved by the family.
According to the statement, resolutions adopted at a general family meeting and reaffirmed after the burial of the late family head, Lawrence Omodia, in 2008, remain binding. The resolutions provide that families occupying Umu-Isegbe land by ancestral permission must remain within their original boundaries and are prohibited from extending their occupation or erecting new structures beyond the areas initially occupied.
The family further stated that occupants may be required to negotiate an equitable settlement, exchange equivalent portions of land from their own ancestral holdings, or purchase the land they currently occupy. It argued that allowing others to permanently occupy Umu-Isegbe land while retaining or disposing of their own ancestral lands would be unfair to future generations of the family.
The statement added that the family’s position remained unchanged throughout the tenure of the late Chief Elder Z. C. Egbuchunem, who served as Head of the Family until his death in May 2022, and was reaffirmed during subsequent general meetings held in 2022, 2024, and April 4, 2026.
The family warned that anyone claiming to have acquired Umu-Isegbe land through unauthorised sales, gifts, allocations, or similar arrangements was acting without its consent and could be participating in efforts to unlawfully deprive the family of its inheritance.
It also cautioned members of the public against purchasing, developing, or entering into any transaction involving Umu-Isegbe Family land without the express approval of the Umu-Isegbe Family General Assembly/Annual Union.
The family said it would pursue all lawful means to recover and protect its ancestral land if the alleged unauthorised transactions continue, urging prospective buyers to exercise caution and carry out due diligence before acquiring any land claimed to belong to the family.
Below is the notice in full:
📢 PUBLIC NOTICE
RE: DISCLAIMER ON THE ALLEGED SALE, GIFTING, ALLOCATION, ACQUISITION, OR GRABBING OF UMU-ISEGBE FAMILY LAND IN EKWUOMA, IKA NORTH EAST LGA, DELTA STATE.
The attention of the Umu-Isegbe Family of Idumute Village, Ekwuoma, Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, has been drawn to rumours and reports circulating within and outside Ekwuoma concerning the alleged sale, gifting, allocation, acquisition, or grabbing of Umu-Isegbe Family land by certain persons.
To set the record straight, the Umu-Isegbe Family hereby issues the following official statement for the information of the general public:
1.0 Umu-Isegbe Family has never sold, gifted, allocated, or otherwise transferred any portion of its ancestral family land to any individual or group, except:
1.1 The portions of land which our forefathers/fathers permitted the forefathers/fathers of certain families to occupy, and;
1.2 The specific parcel of land gifted to Mr. Akas Asielue.
2.0 At the General Meeting of Umu-Isegbe Family held at the residence of the Late Lawrence Omodia, then Head of the Family, and reaffirmed after his burial in 2008, the following resolutions were unanimously adopted:
2.1 Those occupying portions of Umu-Isegbe Family land by virtue of permission granted by our forefathers/fathers shall remain only within the original areas occupied by their forefathers/fathers.
2.2 There shall be no extension of such occupation or construction of new buildings beyond the original areas and structures established by their forefathers/fathers.
2.3 Umu-Isegbe Family shall engage in discussions with those whose fathers or forefathers occupy Umu-Isegbe Family land while retaining ownership of their own ancestral family or village land.
2.4 Such occupants shall either provide the Umu-Isegbe Family with equivalent portion(s) of land from their own family or village land or negotiate an equitable settlement.
2.5 Alternatively, they may be required to purchase the portion(s) they currently occupy, thereby enabling Umu-Isegbe descendants to acquire replacement land from the proceeds.
The Family considers it inequitable and contrary to natural justice for others to continue occupying Umu-Isegbe Family land while retaining or disposing of their own land to the disadvantage of Umu-Isegbe descendants.
3.0 These resolutions remained the official position of the Umu-Isegbe Family throughout the tenure of Late Chief Elder Z. C. Egbuchunem, who served as Head of the Family until his passing on 25 May 2022, and they remained unchanged to this day.
4.0 Several General Meetings/Annual Union meetings have since been held in 2022, 2024, and most recently on 4 April 2026.
At no time did the Family discuss, authorise, approve, or resolve to sell, gift, allocate, or otherwise transfer any part of Umu-Isegbe Family land to any person(s) outside the Umu-Isegbe Family.
5.0 Therefore, any claim that any person has validly acquired any interest in Umu-Isegbe Family land through sale, gift, allocation, acquisition, or any similar arrangement, other than as stated above, is not recognised, acknowledged, approved, or authorised by the Umu-Isegbe Family.
6.0 Any person who believes he or she has acquired any interest in Umu-Isegbe Family land through such transactions is acting without the authority or approval of the Umu-Isegbe Family and may be participating in acts intended to unlawfully deprive the Family of its inheritance. The Umu-Isegbe Family shall employ every legitimate and lawful means available to recover and protect its property.
7.0 This Notice serves as the Official Position of the Umu-Isegbe Family.
8.0 Any person or group that continues to engage in the sale, purchase, allocation, occupation, or development of Umu-Isegbe Family land contrary to this Notice does so entirely at his or her own risk.
9.0 Should such activities continue after this Public Notice, the Umu-Isegbe Family reserves the right to pursue all lawful remedies available to protect its ancestral land and preserve the inheritance of its descendants.
10.0 This Public Notice is issued to inform the general public, prevent further misunderstanding, and serve as the official record of the position of the Umu-Isegbe Family before any further action becomes necessary.
⚠️ Members of the public are therefore advised to exercise caution, carry out due diligence, and refrain from entering into any transaction involving Umu-Isegbe Family land without the express approval of the Umu-Isegbe Family General Assembly/Annual Union.
Signed:
Charles I. Nwokolo
Chairman
Umu-Isegbe Welfare Association/Union (Home and in Diaspora).
