Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Elder Ihekwoaba Livingston Uzoho, an Enugu-based businessman and an indigene of Imo State, has raised the alarm over the alleged plan by the administration of Governor Peter Mbah to demolish his residence and reallocate same to former governor of Ebonyi State and current Minister of Works, David Umahi.
He made the call while speaking to Journalists on his plight and wondered whether it was a crime to acquire a property in Enugu State capital.
Uzoho, who has been living in his property located at No 6 Ozubulu Street Independence Layout, Enugu, and paying his tax without default since 2007, decried that he had not committed any offence to warrant the government to come to mark his house for demolition.
Speaking to journalists on Friday, Uzoho, who feared that the house where he is living with his family would be demolished despite the matter being before the state High Court, maintained that he acquired the property legally and had been living without any hindrance under the previous administrations in the state.
On November 23, 2023, he said David Umahi, the Minister of Works came with his aides and took pictures of his property and others behind him.
They even broke into a property behind his property that belongs to Prof Obumneme Ekwueme, one of the brothers of late former Vice President, Alex Ekwueme, where Umahi had taken over.
Uzoho regretted that barely 24 hours after Umahi’s visit, in which the minister shared N200,000 with some residents of the neighbourhood, the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority, came and marked his house for demolition. They ordered him to remove the property within 24 hours.
Lamenting the trauma he and his family of nine had been going through, he wondered whether it was a crime to acquire a property in the Enugu State capital.
He narrated: “I bought this place, No. 6 Ozubulu Street, Independence Layout, Enugu in 2007. I bought it because it has genuine documents, ranging from the certificate of occupancy (C of O), building plan, and all the necessary documents.
“So, sometime last year, the Honourable Minister of Works, David Umahi, came to this place to assess the land behind my property. They snapped pictures and made videos. After that, they came out here and gave out N200,000 to some people here and told them that they would be taking over the place.
“The next day Monday, the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) came to mark my building. Initially, one of them told me that my security house would be removed. And they marked it for removal.
“The next day I went to their office and they told me to get all my documents, which I provided for them. But, they said I should go and that I would hear from them. All this happened in November last year.”
Uzoho, however, explained that since November he submitted all his documents to the government authorities, but till date, the authorities has not communicated to him.
With the fear that the government would throw him and his family out to the street without any justification, he said he had to approach the court.
“I approached my lawyer, who advised that we take legal action since the government refused to say anything to me.
“So, we went to the court. As a matter of fact, we were in court last month and the matter was adjourned to July 26.
“To my greatest surprise, I was in my house here yesterday, 20th of June, some people told me that Dave Umahi was here with his police. But before I could come out, he had left. One of the workers at the site approached me and told me that my entire house had been marked for demolition to enable the government to reallocate it to the former Governor of Ebonyi State, Senator David Umahi.
“Since yesterday, I have been wondering about the offence I committed to live in Enugu only for my house where I live with my family to be marked for demolition by the government. They even said to me that my house would go down any moment from now.
“Since then, I have been trying to reach them to give me reason for wanting to demolish my house. But nobody is ready to listen to me.
“That’s why I am speaking out through the media. Please Governor Peter Mbah should not allow his government to treat me like this.
“The Enugu State government should leave my property alone. I didn’t acquire it illegally. I didn’t do anything wrong to live in Enugu. I’m staying here with my family. If they chase me out here, where will I run to? This country is hard now; everybody knows that.
“Because of this sad news, none of my children went to school today and as I’m talking to you now, none of them has eaten anything since today because they don’t know what would become our resident the next moment. They’re really scared.
“Senator David Umahi should also leave my building alone. He should remember that nothing is permanent in life. I bought this place before he became the governor of Ebonyi State and now minister. I’m pleading with him to leave us alone to be.”
Meanwhile, in a Motion On Notice filed by the Enugu State High Court in Suit No. E/167/2024, between Ihekwoaba Livingston Uzoho, and Iheanyi Richards Uzoho as Plaintiffs And Enugu State government, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Enugu State, the plaintiffs sought for an Order of Interlocutory injunction restraining the Defendants/Respondents “in this suit by themselves or through their agents, workers, or privies from demolishing or otherwise tampering with the property situate at and otherwise known as No 6. Ozubulu Street Independence Layout Enugu (or any part thereof) pending the determination of the substantive suit.”
“And for such further Order as this honorable court may deem fit to make in the circumstance.”
The suit was filed through his lawyer, O.O Anaya Esq.
Ikengaonline could not speak with the Chairman of the Enugu State Capital Territory Development Authority, Uche Anya because his phone was not connecting.
