A review of land documents issued by relevant authorities has confirmed that a former lawmaker, Ned Nwoko, duly acquired the land on which he is building a golf course and a university in his hometown in Delta State.

Ned Nwoko’s acquisition of 90 hectares of land for a golf course and another two miles by two miles parcel of land for a university had sparked controversy at his native Idumuje-Ugboko in Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta State.

While all palace chiefs, the town development union and majority of residents, local and state governments authorities as well as law enforcement agencies are queueing behind the former lawmaker, saying he acquired the land legitimately, a camp led by Chukwunonso Nwoko, the first son of the late king of the community, has continued to battle the businessman over the property.

The land crisis soon became linked to a kingship succession tussle in the community after the death of the king, Albert Nwoko, culminating in a violent clash in May 2017.

A motorcycle taxi operator identified as Cyprian Kumiolu was allegedly killed in the clash during which some leaders of the community, believed to be backing Ned Nwoko, were also beaten up and their properties vandalised.

Following the violent clash, the police charged some suspects to court but the case was thrown out after some of the suspects had spent about three years in police and prison custodies.

Ned Nwoko was a member of the House of Representatives from 1999 to 2003. On March 16, 2015, he applied to the then king of the town, Mr Nwoko, for allocation of 90 hectares from the land set aside by the community for development projects.

In the application he made through his company, Linas International Ltd, Ned Nwoko, who is also a member of the ruling family of the community, said he wanted to build a golf course on the land.

He also requested another two miles by two miles parcel of land to build the permanent site of his private university. The former lawmaker has started developing the temporary site of the STAR University on a part of a 33 hectares of land the community had earlier allocated to him in 2001 to start a dairy farm⁵.