Sterling Global Land Acquisition Sparks Fresh Dispute Between Egbeye Family and Ozoro Kingdom Leadership

By Moses Omovevah

A simmering dispute over land acquisition for oil exploration activities in Ozoro Kingdom, Isoko North Local Government Area of Delta State, has escalated, with members of the Egbeye family protesting against Sterling Global and accusing the company of unlawfully occupying their ancestral land, while the kingdom’s leadership insists due process was followed.

The disagreement centres on approximately four hectares of land leased to Sterling Global for oil exploration activities, with members of the Egbeye family alleging exclusion from negotiations, unauthorized representation, inadequate compensation, and violations of a subsisting court order.

Leading the protest, Comrade Emmanuel Ogba, a representative of the Egbeye family, alleged that the family was sidelined after initially participating in discussions regarding the acquisition of the land.

According to Ogba, the family’s opposition began after they discovered that an individual had allegedly been appointed to sign a lease agreement on behalf of the family without their authorization.

“We informed the company that we did not authorize anybody to sign any agreement on behalf of our family. We requested copies of the agreement but were denied access to the document,” he alleged.

Ogba further claimed that repeated petitions to the Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Oil and Gas, Department of State Services (DSS), Joint Task Force (JTF), and other authorities yielded little response.

The family representative also alleged that crops, cassava farms, coconut trees, and palm plantations belonging to family members were destroyed during activities on the disputed land without adequate compensation.

He maintained that members of the family never consented to the lease arrangement and accused certain individuals of collecting benefits from sand excavation and other activities on the land without the family’s approval.

The Egbeye family also alleged that despite a court order directing parties to maintain the status quo pending determination of the substantive suit, Sterling Global continued activities on the disputed property.

“Our grievance is that the company continued working on the land after the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo. We believe this amounts to a violation of the court’s order,” Ogba stated.

The protesters vowed to continue peaceful demonstrations and legal action until their concerns are addressed and compensation issues resolved.

However, the President-General of Ozoro Kingdom, Chief Odio Berkley Asiafa, has strongly defended the acquisition process, insisting that all negotiations were conducted transparently and in line with established customs governing communal lands in the kingdom.

Chief Asiafa explained that Sterling Global entered Ozoro Kingdom in 2024 and identified three locations for oil exploration, after which the kingdom’s leadership initiated consultations with affected families.

According to him, land ownership in Ozoro is based on an extended family system, making it necessary for the office of the President-General to coordinate negotiations involving companies and host communities.

“Whenever a company wants to acquire land for major projects, discussions are conducted through the office of the President-General in conjunction with representatives of the affected families to avoid disputes,” he said.

The community leader disclosed that minutes, attendance registers, maps, and other records of meetings involving family representatives, kingdom officials, and company representatives were properly documented.

Addressing allegations that compensation had not been paid, Asiafa said funds paid by Sterling Global remain lodged in the account of the Ozoro Progressive Union (OPU) pending the resolution of internal disagreements among members of the affected families.

“The money was paid into the kingdom’s account, not my personal account. We decided not to distribute it until the families settle their disputes,” he explained.

Chief Asiafa further clarified that the transaction involved a lease agreement rather than an outright sale of land, noting that Ozoro Kingdom has consistently maintained a policy against selling oil-bearing lands.

“We told the company that we do not sell our oil-bearing lands. This is the 33rd oil well location in the kingdom, and all previous arrangements have been based on leases,” he said.

The President-General also dismissed allegations surrounding the sharing of “kola nut money,” describing it as a goodwill gesture provided during negotiations and not part of compensation or lease payments.

On the ongoing litigation, Asiafa maintained that the kingdom was not a party to the suit and described the matter as an internal disagreement among factions of the Egbeye family.

According to him, the case remains before the court and no final judgment has been delivered.

He also expressed concern that the dispute could jeopardize future benefits expected from oil exploration activities.

“The real benefits are not in land acquisition. Acquisition payments are usually minimal compared to what communities stand to gain when actual oil exploration begins,” he stated.

Chief Asiafa revealed that agreements reached with Sterling Global include community development initiatives such as the construction of one kilometre of road annually in Ozoro Kingdom for 25 years, among other projects.

He said experts in the petroleum industry had advised the community that long-term benefits from exploration, including infrastructure, employment opportunities, and development projects, would far exceed acquisition payments.

According to him, several attempts by traditional rulers, security agencies, the Ministry of Oil and Gas, and the DSS to reconcile the parties have not yielded the desired results.

“We need to focus on the bigger opportunities that oil exploration can bring to the kingdom. If we work together, the entire community stands to benefit significantly in the years ahead,” he said.

As of the time of filing this report, Sterling Global had not publicly responded to the allegations. Efforts to obtain reactions from the company personnel on site proves abortive, as he said he is not in position to respond.