DistantNews
Support us
🇳🇬 Nigeria /Crime & Justice

Abia community, monarch trade words over land theft

From The Punch · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources In the courts
  • Indigenes of Umunenweze Okpuagla community in Abia State accuse their traditional ruler, Eze Paul Uzuegbu, and village head Ejikeme Emereuwa of illegally selling ancestral land.
  • The community cites a 2022 court judgment that declared Uzuegbu's Ezeship null and void, yet he continues to allegedly encroach on and sell lands.
  • They are appealing to law enforcement and state officials to intervene and enforce the rule of law to prevent further land grabbing and potential communal crisis.

Indigenes of Umunenweze Okpuagla community in Abia State have accused their traditional ruler, Eze Paul Uzuegbu, and village head Ejikeme Emereuwa of brazenly encroaching upon, selling, and donating ancestral lands. These actions allegedly continue despite a March 2022 court judgment that declared Uzuegbu's Ezeship "null and void."

brazen lawlessness, impunity, and daylight robbery.

— Mr. Okechukwu UzuegbuThe community spokesman described the alleged actions of the traditional ruler and village head.

During a protest at the Government House in Umuahia, community spokesman Mr. Okechukwu Uzuegbu described the actions as "brazen lawlessness, impunity, and daylight robbery." The community referenced Suit No. HU/59/2015, where Justice O.A. Chijioke ruled against Uzuegbu's claim to the throne. Despite this ruling, the community alleges that Uzuegbu, in collusion with Emereuwa, uses thugs to forcefully seize lands, violating property rights and threatening peace.

Despite this, Eze Uzuegbu continues to parade himself as a paramount ruler, using thugs and compromised elements to forcefully take over lands in Umunenweze Okpualla.

— Mr. Okechukwu UzuegbuThe community spokesman detailed how the deposed ruler allegedly continues to seize land.

The community has resolved that Umunenweze Okpuagla land must be returned to its rightful owners. They issued a communiqué demanding an immediate halt to all illegal activities, including the submission of false documents to the government claiming the community relinquished land rights. They specifically cited the alleged illegal sale of a parcel known as 'Okpuijikara' to a construction firm, warning the public and developers that Uzuegbu and Emereuwa have no legal authority to conduct such transactions.

We demand the immediate cessation of all illegal activities by Uzuegbu, Emereuwa and their agents, including the submission of false letters and forged documents to the government claiming the community had relinquished land rights. Further trespass will be treated as deliberate incitement to chaos.

— Umunenweze Okpualla community communiquéThe community's official statement outlined their demands and warnings regarding land transactions.

Appealing for urgent intervention, the community called on law enforcement agencies, the Umuahia Police Command, Governor Alex Otti, and the Ministry of Lands to enforce the rule of law. They fear that the actions of the deposed Eze and his associates risk triggering a communal crisis.

We call on law enforcement agencies for urgent intervention. We appeal to the Umuahia Police Command, Governor Alex Otti and the Ministry of Lands to enforce the rule of law because the actions of the deposed Eze and his cohorts risk triggering a communal crisis.

— Umunenweze Okpualla community communiquéThe community appealed to authorities for intervention to uphold the rule of law and prevent conflict.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Punch. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog