By Juliana Nwachukwu
Irked by the incessant encroachment on government-owned properties despite repeated warnings to steer clear of such lands, the Onitsha South Local Government Area, Anambra State, has vowed to recover all government properties that have been fraudulently appropriated.
The Secretary to the council, Hon. Paul Onuachalla, made the vow while reacting to claims by an Onitsha-based businessman, Mr. Uzoeto Sabest, that the LG Mayor, Hon. Emeka Orji, demolished his buildings on Silas Works Road worth ₦600 million, despite the existence of approval and a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) for the demolished structures.
In his swift response to Sabest’s claim, the council scribe stated, “I am responding to the publication made by Uzoeto Sabest, asserting that Onitsha South Local Government demolished a ₦600 million business center and calling for the Governor’s intervention.
“First and foremost, the land in question is along Silas Works Road, and this particular land is Council property that was fraudulently appropriated by individuals. We inherited the land as Transition Chairman and later as elected officials.
“Mr. Uzoeto has helpfully admitted that there have been several invitations extended to him, including prior notices before the repossession of the said land. The reality is that the land rightly belongs to Onitsha South Local Government. We have sufficient evidence to support our claim, and there are other properties involved that we are also trying to recover.
“The C of O he is referring to cannot cure a bad title. If you have a bad title to a property, it remains a bad title, regardless of whether you have a C of O or not. A bad title remains a bad title. While a C of O might give the impression of a legitimate property, if the title for the land in question is bad, it remains bad. A C of O cannot rectify that.
“When we confronted him, we asked him several questions, and he admitted that the place in question is a Primary Health Center, which he bought from Hon. Chuma Nzeribe. He presented a Deed of Assignment between himself and Chuma Nzeribe, but this deed did not provide any further details or recital.
“The other document we saw was a letter from then-Governor Mbadinuju, addressed to Chief Odii Umolu of 110 Awka Road, Onitsha North LGA, purportedly allocating the land to him on May 11, 2001. Shortly afterward, there was another Deed of Assignment between Uchenna S. Uzoeto and Chuma Nzeribe of 110 Awka Road, Onitsha, Onitsha North LGA. Oddly, Chuma Nzeribe and Chief Odii Umolu are both listed as residing at the same address, 110 Awka Road, Onitsha North Local Government.
Regarding the case being pending in court, as mentioned by Sabest, the Secretary clarified that the court case is between Sabest and Chief Emeka Orji, not Onitsha South Local Government.
“Onitsha South Local Government is not a party to the suit. The parties involved in the suit are Uchenna S. Uzoeto, Emeka Orji, and the Anambra State Government as defendants. Onitsha South Local Government is not a party to this suit. Sabest filed a suit against Chief Emeka Orji in his personal capacity, which has nothing to do with the LG. Orji is merely a public servant executing the resolution of the council, and it is Onitsha South LG that took possession of its land, which was fraudulently annexed by Uchenna S. Uzoeto and others. So, where did we go wrong?
“This is a case of Onitsha South LG seeking to recover its property. As far as I am aware, this is a case of fraudulent transactions, with the LG being a victim of the fraudulent land dealings. Onitsha South LG, under the able leadership of Chief Emeka Orji, is committed to recovering every inch of its property, no matter how highly placed the individuals who fraudulently appropriated them may be. We are recovering every piece that has been taken from us,” he further vowed.
He consequently appealed to the general public, advising anyone interested in acquiring land to conduct proper due diligence.
“Do not just rely on the Land Registry; make your own inquiries—find out the land’s purpose, its previous owners, and how it came about. Was it inherited or allocated? Examine all the documents, as someone may have misled the Land Registry Authority to get it registered.”
“This is the problem we are facing in Niger Street, where someone converted Ndem Ndem Market to private property, and someone issued him a C of O,” he disclosed.
In her contribution to the land saga, Mrs. Grace Anekwe, Chairman of the Woliwo Welfare Association, Onitsha South, stated that the original purpose of the land in question was for a Primary Health Center, which was established during the administration of former Governor Okwadike and continued under his successor, Governor Mbadinuju.
“I am not against the LG demolishing the land if it is for public use. What I would oppose is allocating it to someone else, rather than the rightful owner of the land,” she posited.