2 weeks ago
19
By Lukman Olabiyi
The Nsulu Stakeholders Forum (NSF) has called on Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to obey an order of the state High Court sitting in Okpuala Ngwa, which ordered the state government to stay further action to seize over 1,350 hectares of land belonging to some Nsulu communities in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state for the proposed Abia airport project.
The Nsulu communities are Ikputu, Umuikeocha, Umuode, Umuezeukwu, Umuogu, Uwaomaikoo, Umuosu, Umuata Umuosu, Umule Umuosu, Okpulorukwu Umuosu, Umuogele Umuosu, Umuodeche, Ubaha, Umuala, Umuezenta Nbawsi, Mbubo, and Umuomainta Nbawsi.
The NSF, in a statement by its convener, Mazi Chigoram, said that the trial judge in the matter, Justice Enyinnaya Okezie, had on 20 December 2024 made the order following the suit by representatives of the communities.
“At the hearing in the suit No. HIN/62/2024, Chukwuemeka Nwaogu appeared for the claimants, while C. Ogwo, acting Director, Civil Litigation Department, Abia State Ministry of Justice, Umuahia, appeared for the respondents.
“Justice Okezie had ordered, ‘It is hereby ordered as follows: That C.O. Ogwo undertakes that action in respect of the subject matter in this suit shall be stayed till the motion on notice is determined.’”
The NSF noted that Governor Otti is not above the law or court order, as any order made by a court of competent jurisdiction must be obeyed. Otti only enjoys immunity, and that does not grant him the power to go against a clear order of the court.
“The acting Director, Civil Litigation Department in the state, represented the governor and other defendants in the matter. The state and the governor or his agents must not be allowed to go against the court order.
“The affected Nsulu communities are challenging the desperate attempt to take over their land and have taken the matter to court. The governor cannot sit at Government House and disobey a court order.
“We also find it offensive that the Otti government went into the land to cut paths, despite the clear order of the court staying action in the matter.
“We have it also on good authority that while the affected communities have been peaceful and are looking forward to the matter being determined by the court, Otti’s Special Assistant on Lands and Housing and Project Coordinator of Abia Airport Project, Pastor Okorougo Aji, has been busy calling for all sorts of meetings with community village heads, compound heads, and others, the latest being the one slated for 6 February 2025 at Government House.
“We find it offensive that the Abia State government will invite communities it is plotting to seize their lands to a meeting at Government House.
“We also find it offensive that the Otti government wants to take 1,350 hectares of our land, mostly from poor village folks, most of whom depend on the land to feed and take care of their families.
“We are not opposed to President Bola Tinubu’s airstrip planned for the state, but an airport cannot be sited in a heavily populated community without consideration of its Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Our buildings are being marked for demolition, with our ancestral homes, shrines, churches, and natural features, and our forefathers’ graves being marked. Our only sources of livelihood (small farmlands) less than 2 km away are purportedly marked for the airport project, while other suitable areas had already been acquired from the same people by the previous administration.
“We also note that in 2015 and 2022, the government of Abia State under Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu came up with the idea of building an airport for Abia State and, in this regard, acquired an expanse of land spanning Umuode Nsulu, Ikputu Nsulu, Umuodeche Nsulu, Umuogu, and Umuezeukwu Nsulu, etc., in Isiala Ngwa North. Much of the land belonged to our people and was voluntarily given up by them, wherein a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) was issued by the Abia State Government, and approval was issued from the office of the Ministry of Aviation for the building of the Abia airstrip.
“This vast area of land is still acquired and largely uninhabited. If the governor wants to build an international airport, this land is still available for use by the governor and is most appropriate due to its zero percent impact on the EIA.”
English (US) ·