Lawrence Nwimo, Awka
A former Majority Leader of the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Humphrey Nsofor, has filed a lawsuit at the High Court of Anambra State, Nnewi Judicial Division, seeking judicial intervention over the alleged unlawful suspension of development approvals in Oraifite, Ekwusigo Local Government Area.
The suit, marked HN/409/2025, is against the President-General of the Oraifite Improvement Union (OIU), Mr. Vincent Dike, over a public announcement allegedly issued on September 18, 2025, suspending approvals for new commercial development projects in Oraifite pending the formulation of an “Oraifite Land Use Policy.”
According to court documents, the announcement further alleged that the Anambra State Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning had been urged to halt statutory approvals in compliance with the directive.
Through his counsel, Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, Nsofor contended that no town union, communal association, or its president-general has the constitutional or statutory authority to regulate land use or suspend development approvals in Anambra State.
He argued that such powers are vested exclusively in the state government under the Land Use Act and relevant state laws, and are exercised through the Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning and other statutory agencies.
Nsofor stated that he is the lawful owner of land at his ancestral home in Oraifite, part of which is designated for legitimate commercial development. He said he had already commenced lawful processes to obtain statutory approvals before the disputed announcement was made.
He further alleged that the announcement caused contractors to halt work, financiers to review or withdraw funding commitments, and investors and residents to be thrown into uncertainty.
Nsofor described these outcomes as direct consequences of what he termed an unlawful and ultra vires proclamation.
In the suit, he claimed that the alleged suspension amounts to forceful occupation, unlawful control, and unauthorised alienation of communal and private land, in violation of property rights guaranteed under Section 43 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).
Among the reliefs sought, Nsofor asked the court to declare that Dike lacks the authority to suspend or interfere with statutory planning approvals, and that any such directive is unconstitutional, null, and void.
He also sought perpetual and mandatory injunctions restraining the defendant from further interference in land use and development matters, and compelling him to withdraw and publicly disclaim the announcement.
Additionally, Nsofor urged the court to order the Anambra State Ministry of Physical and Urban Planning, where applicable, to resume and conclude the processing of all valid development applications without interference.
He is also claiming ₦200 million in general damages for alleged economic losses and disruption of lawful commercial activities, ₦50 million in exemplary damages, and ₦30 million as cost of the action.
Court documents indicate that Dike has been served with the writ of summons and is required to enter an appearance within 42 days, failing which the court may proceed in his absence.
Nsofor described the suit as a principled effort to protect the rights of landowners, developers, and investors in Oraifite, reaffirming the supremacy of the rule of law over what he termed arbitrary and unauthorised communal actions.
