Planned demolition in Enugu: Gov. Ugwuanyi compounding problems for Gov-Elect Mbah?

Abuja, NIGERIA —Apparently, all is not well with the people of Obeagu Awkunanaw and Amechi Uwani communities in Enugu State over alleged planned demolition of private and commercial buildings in the Centenary city authorized by Enugu State government.

The properties located within the 1,097 hectares of land belonging to the Obeagu Awkunanaw community and to the concerned kindred families of Amechi Uwani her been subject of litigations including Suit Nos: E/56/2020, E/871/2019 , E/1148/2019 amongst others.

The state government, it was gathered, had purportedly entered into and obtained a consent judgement with private developers with which it plans to demolish structures erected in the area, using the the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA).

According to the community, the consent judgement was obtained by government without recourse to them as owners of the property even when they applied to be joined in the matter.

They added that the outgoing administration of Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was only compounding issues and creating problems for the incoming administration of Barr Peter Mbah.

The community said it has also filed processes at Enugu State High court to set aside the consent judgement with which the state government is relying on to act.

A statement issued by the Chairman, Obeagu Awkunanaw Land Committee, Gilbert Ikechukwu Agbo reads: “The attention of the Obeagu Awkunanaw Community has been drawn to announcements making the rounds on some radio stations supposedly credited to the management of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority.

“The Obeagu Awkunanaw Community therefore wishes to state for the purpose of the record that the subject matter of the referenced demolition supposedly scheduled for the 4th of May 2023, being the 1,097 hectares of land belonging to the Obeagu Awkunanaw community and to the concerned kindred families of Amechi Uwani is the subject of different litigations including Suit Nos: E/56/2020, E/871/2019, E/1148/2019 amongst others.

“And that the consent judgement referenced in the announcement was entered into without recourse to us as customary owners of the property, despite our application to be joined.

“And that we have since filed relevant processes at the Enugu State High Court to set aside the consent judgements on this very pertinent and numerous other grounds.

“It is also imperative to, by this medium, draw the attention of the Capital Territory and other privies of government to the specific order of court in Suit No: E/306/2022 against any such demolitions, in the hope that this communication will provide the much-needed insight against the current position of the agency, who we will further implore to allow for the courts to exhaust their jurisprudence before any other actions are undertaken on the subject matter.

“While the benefactors of the consent judgement have held our communities hostage since 2009 at the behest of a few land grabbers, we restate our commitment to protecting our heritage and customary inheritance even if we have to do so at the expense of our lives.

“May our forefathers go before us and may their spirits fortify us for what is ahead. The General public is hereby put on notice accordingly.”

The story was earlier reported by www.corenews.com.ng