Special Legislative Aide (SLA) to the Deputy President of the Senate, Chief Emmanuel Igwe has accused the Ebonyi State Government of engaging in what he described as the forceful takeover of citizens' lands, urging Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru to halt the alleged practice and restore affected properties to their owners.
In an open letter addressed to Governor Nwifuru and titled, "Time to Stop Forceful Takeover of People's Land in Abakaliki (Part 1)," Igwe expressed concern over recent remarks credited to the Commissioner for Lands and Survey, Chief Matthew Nwobashi, regarding the revocation of the EBSU Pocket Layout.
According to Igwe, the commissioner reportedly stated that the layout was revoked because it had been allocated to private developers under what he described as a "mistake" by the previous administration.
The aide argued that the allocation of the EBSU Pocket Layout followed due process, stating that the land was allocated to qualified developers after public advertisement and procurement procedures backed by existing state laws enacted during the administration of former Governor David Umahi.
He maintained that investors who developed the estates did so relying on the sanctity of the law and should not be punished through what he described as arbitrary revocations.
Igwe alleged that attempts to dispossess individuals of their lands would set a dangerous precedent in Ebonyi State and undermine investor confidence.
He further alleged that the Commissioner for Lands and Survey had generated over ₦100 billion through the reallocation of more than 30 loading bays at the Central Park in Abakaliki under the guise of correcting mistakes made by the previous administration. He claimed the exercise lacked approval from the State Executive Council and the House of Assembly.
The presidential aide also criticised the government's alleged acquisition of land at Park Residential Estate for the establishment of a batching plant, claiming that commercial properties worth over ₦10 billion were demolished without compensation to their owners.
He argued that the revocation of the EBSU Pocket Layout contradicted existing Ebonyi State laws on investment protection and land allocation, insisting that the current administration should respect legal frameworks governing property ownership.
Igwe urged Governor Nwifuru to prioritise the welfare of Ebonyi people, apologise to those whose lands were allegedly taken, return the affected properties where possible and provide adequate compensation.
Describing his intervention as friendly advice, Igwe claimed to have personally suffered losses exceeding ₦12 billion as a result of what he termed unlawful actions of the state government, adding that he was no longer afraid of any repercussions that might arise from expressing his views.
The Ebonyi State Government had not responded to the allegations contained in the open letter as of the time of filing this report.
