Two young men were on Monday, April 13, brought before a Magistrate Court in Warri, Delta State, over allegations that they unlawfully demanded a development fee, commonly referred to as “deve,” from a property developer, Pastor Fred Aghedo.
The suspects, Irikefe Ajueyitsi and Abubakar Nasiru, appeared before Chief Magistrate E. M. Sowho at Magistrate Court One in Warri, facing a two-count charge of illegal demand and conduct likely to breach public peace.
Prosecuting counsel from the Uvwie Area Command of the Nigerian Police Force, ASP Dicko Wakama, told the court that the defendants, along with others still at large, allegedly committed the offence on March 12, 2026, at 3rd Marine Quarter Road in Warri.
According to the prosecution, they demanded “deve” from Pastor Aghedo in connection with construction work on his property. The act, the prosecutor said, violates Section 13(1) of the Delta State Public and Private Properties Protection Law, 2018, and is punishable under Section 13(2) of the same law.
Wakama also told the court that the accused persons engaged in behaviour that could disrupt public peace by creating a nuisance at the property, an offence punishable under Section 249(d) of the Criminal Code of Delta State.
The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. In her ruling, Chief Magistrate Sowho granted them bail and adjourned the case until May 20, 2026, for further hearing.
Speaking in court, Pastor Aghedo recounted that the suspects and others allegedly blocked him and a tractor he hired for land development, insisting that work could not continue unless he paid the demanded fee. He said the incident led him to report the matter to the police.
The arraignment comes as part of ongoing efforts by the Delta State Government to clamp down on illegal levies, warning that anyone caught demanding such fees from property developers will be arrested and prosecuted.
