...Shepherd Plantation Limited will now arrest, prosecute intruders
The Divisional Police Officer, DPO, of Obehie Police Station in Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State, SP Uche Uguru, has settled the Lease Dispute involving Shepherd Plantation Limited and Uzowis Global Company.
According to Uguru, what we want is peace and we do not want any disruption of the Lease Agreement again.
"Uche Okutu should allow the ongoing Lease agreement to be concluded. And if he is interested in the activities of the Company, he should go through the Directors. He should tell his elder brother of his intentions."
The Agreement, which started this year was running smoothly until a non-Director of the Company, Uche Okutu, vehemently obstructed the Lease Agreement by bringing people to cut the palm fruits without any express permission by any Director of the Company.
He claimed that elders of Igbodo village in Delta State gave him the permission to loot the Company for 14 years without accounting to the Directors of the Company and the Okutu family.
This is what he has done since after the demise of the first Chief Executive Officer, CEO, of the Company. Chief Samuel Okutu.
The operators and beneficiaries of the Lease Agreement lamented how they had lost huge sums of money and time, following the activities of Uche Okutu, who is the last child of late Chief Samuel Okutu.
It was alleged that he disrupted the Lease Agreement on several occasions as he damaged the vehicle used by the lessor and attempted to fight with the Councillor, representing Obuzor Ward in Ukwa West LGA, Hon. Uzoma Onya.
His activities have consistently brought disrepute to the prestigious name of Okutu family, which is known for peaceful disposition, high level intellectualism and service to humanity.
Speaking during the settlement meeting in the office of the DPO of Obehie Police station, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO/Director of Shepherd Plantation Limited, Head of the Okutu Family and late Chief Samuel Okutu's first son, Mr. Peter Okutu, called on the DPO to maintain peace between both parties and allow the smooth operation of the Lease Agreement without any form of bias.
He said: "Having critically looked at the huge losses incurred by the Lessor for over 3 months of Uche's disruptive activities and the need to pacify him (Lessor) to prevent any form of litigation against the Company, their Lease Agreement was extended by four months to enable them stand on their feet.
"Uche Okutu has been interrupting the Lease Agreement signed by all the Directors of the Company, namely, Peter Okutu, Esther Okutu, Emeka Okutu and Christopher Okutu, as the Lease money was shared to every member of the family without any exception. Uche Okutu should stop dragging the image of this family to the mud because of his bloated and aggregarious selfish interest.
"This is a civilised society, where things are done properly and orderly, bearing in mind the impact and position of the law. The DPO, today waded into the matter as it was resolved amicably without any hitch."
The Head of the Okutu Family and CEO of the Company called on the DPO of Obehie Police Division, who is an Ebonyi man from Ikwo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, to abide strictly by the Act and Laws governing the running and establishment of a Company and not allow himself to be used to cause acrimony in Okutu family.
"Okutu family consists of 13 persons and what we are saying here is that what belongs to the family should go to every member of the family. Nobody by birth or inclination has the right to rule over the possession of the family unscrupulously. We are a one united family and we should jointly fight against any move or action designed to cause disunity in the family.
"Uche Okutu ran the Company for 14 good years without any form of accountability to the Directors of the Company. This unfair adventure has to stop because enough is certainly enough. This Company is going to sue and arrest anybody that encroaches into the operations of Shepherd Plantation Limited, without the express permission of the four Directors of the Company.
"As both the traditional and spiritual head of the Okutu Family, I want to say that those persons who are bent on causing problems in Okutu family by using Uche Okutu to negate the sanctity, structure and leadership of Okutu family will face the full wrath of God, if they don't repent. They will be visited with the consequences of all their actions against the family in no distant time."
The CEO of the Company and the Head of the Okutu Family, Mr. Peter Okutu called on the military to stop taking sides with Uche Okutu, who is apparently not a Director or shareholder of Company.
"The Board of Directors had written to the Commanding Officer, CO, of the 144 Battalion, Asa, in Ukwa West LGA, on the 5th of November, 2024 about the operation of the Company and the need for it to be neutral but it has allegedly decided to illegally pitch their tenth in a wrong direction or footing."
Recall that when issues revolving around the Company was brought before His Royal Highness, HRH Eze O.T. Ehiemere, Eze Obioha II, the Paramount ruler of Umunneator Autonomous Community, Ukwa West L.G.A, Abia State, the Palace after hearing from Mr. Peter Okutu, Petronilla Okutu, Uche Okutu and Elizabeth Okutu, gave the following ruling: "The wisdom of Peter Okutu is commended. Shepherd Plantation Limited is legally registered and has Directors.The terminal date for Lease of palm plantation (by Uche) is 31/12/3024."
The findings of the Palace further stated that: "Uche Okutu has been leasing out the palm plantation without accounting to the Directors; Uche Okutu has been occupying the House of the Company and property of the Company for 14 years; that the Directors of Shepherd farm will decide what to do with the Company."
In an interview with the Lessor, Hon. Uzoma Onya, who complained about the illegal activities of Uche Okutu on the Plantation added that the Lease Agreement signed between his Company and Shepherd Plantation Limited had on several occasions been disrupted by Uche Okutu, who regularly bring in Labourers to cut the palm fruits in the Plantation.
"Our plan was to sue Shepherd Plantation Limited to the tune of N50m, if not for the timely intervention of the DPO of Obehie Police Division. The boy called Uche Okutu has attacked me at the Plantation and told me that the Plantation belong to him. This is the height of mischief and deceit.
"How can a Company that has four Directors be owned by the last child of the family. This boy caused damage to the vehicle we brought to the plantation and attacked me, an honourable. I feel so embarrassed but thank God everything has been settled by the police division in Obehie. If this kind of disruption continues, we will sue, I repeat , we will sue Shepherd Plantation Limited without any remorse."
Shepherd Plantation Limited was established on 15th July, 1998, with registration No: 338419, by the late Force Marine Officer, Assistant Commissioner of Police, ACP Samuel Okutu, of blessed memory as he was the one that personally appointed the Directors, who are the legitimate and legal shareholders of the Company.
After his demise, the children of late Chief Samuel Okutu gave Uche Okutu 15 plots of land that has palm plantation in it but he decided to abandon it and focus on Shepherd Plantation Limited without any form of authorisation from the Directors of the Company.
Until his demise, late Chief Samuel Okutu, married his first wife, Mrs. Bridget Okutu, with whom he had eight (8) children and the second wife, Elizabeth Okutu, with three children.
