Enugu Govt denies land grabbing allegations

[From CHINEDU NWAFOR, Abakaliki]

Enugu Government has denied allegations of land grabbing, destruction of economic trees and cattle ranches in the State.

The allegation was leveled against the State Housing Corporation by one Anthony Eruchie.

Mr Eruchie had accused the corporation of grabbing the property, destroying 35 to 40 years old plantation/cattle ranch belonging to his 85 years old father, Chief Christopher Eruchie, at Angel Layout, Trans Ekulu, Enugu.

Eruchie also alleged that the corporation used fake court order to carry out the action, adding that cash crops worth millions of naira were destroyed and over 250 cows and uncountable number of goats got missing in the process.

But the General Manager of the State Housing Corporation, Mr Chukwuemelie Agu  in a chat with Journalists in Enugu on Friday, described the allegations as malicious, unfounded and an attempt to drag the image of the corporation to disrepute.

He said that the corporation duly entered into partnership with Benchyke Nig. Ltd., the owners of the property to develop the site.

“The corporation entered into the property with a court judgment in suit no. E/593/017 that clarified the real owners of the parcel of land which was in favour of Benchyke Nig. Ltd,” he said.  

He said that Benchyke Nig. Ltd. had gone further to obtain warrant of possession from the court which activated its title over the property and possession duly executed.

He said that it was sad that the Eruchie family had employed the use of self help to avert a substantive court judgment over the said property.

“The corporation in exercise of its power to acquire land under Sect. 17 of Enugu State Housing Development Corporation Laws, Cap 58 of 2004, negotiated and acquired the land formally,” he said.

Chukwuemelie further explained that the land was acquired from the three different communities who were the original owners, including the Nokpa/ Umuewene Iji Nike and Ozalla Abor Communities in Enugu East Local Government Area.

“The transaction is embodied in an agreement of land acquisition between the parties gazetted in Enugu State Government official gazette dated Nov. 28, 2020 in Volume 29,  no 5 ISSN 1116-2971.”

The General Manager said that the corporation upon enquiry and In furtherance to its pursuit for diligence and due process discovered that the Eruchie family made a bogus claim to the ownership of the property.

“The purported title of Christopher Eruchie was subjected to scrutiny by Enugu State Ministry of Lands and Urban Development through the Enugu State Police Command which wrote a report dated Sept. 17, 2020 with reference no LEN/32051/ in Vol. 11/200.

“The report stated that Eruchie’s title over the land is not registrable and not registered at the ministry of lands contrary to his claim of possessing Certificate of Occupancy in respect of the said land.

“Christopher Eruchie is standing criminal trial in charge no CME/270C/2020 for forcibly converting a parcel of land without colour of rights, holds possession of it in a manner likely to cause a breach of peace. He was on Aug. 27, 2021 served with Form 48 for disobedience to court order in suit no. E/593/17,”he said.