Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Pensioners and staff of the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Enugu State have appealed to Governor Peter Mbah to intervene over the alleged encroachment on their land.
The affected workers said they purchased the land—about 90 plots located at Uhuagu Obeagu-Uno in Enugu South Local Government Area—using personal savings and loans several years ago.
During a peaceful protest at the site, the demonstrators accused Pius Ugwu and his son, Ebuka Ugwu, of reselling the land to suspected grabbers.
Speaking to journalists, the protesters said they acquired the property through an estate agent identified as Lion of Judah, which had earlier bought the land from Pius Ugwu, with all necessary documentation duly processed.
Carrying placards, the protesters further alleged that the land had been resold to speculators posing as estate developers, who they claimed had ignored court orders restraining them from further activities on the property.
Speaking on behalf of the group, Venerable Emeka Agana said the NOA staff legitimately purchased the 90 plots in 2017 and completed all required payments and documentation.
Agana, an Anglican priest, alleged that Ebuka Ugwu connived with the alleged land grabbers to take over the property, prompting the staff to seek legal redress.
He further claimed that some individuals, asserting ownership of the land, recently invaded the site and destroyed fences and foundations erected by the original buyers.
“We paid development fees of about N250,000 each to the Obeagu Welfare Association and another N250,000 to the community. We have all the documents. They are not denying selling the land to us. We went to court and obtained an injunction, but they ignored it,” he said.
He alleged that despite the subsisting court order, the individuals had continued to demolish structures on the land in a bid to forcefully take possession.
Agana appealed to the state government to assist them in reclaiming the property, noting that many of the affected persons are pensioners and widows who invested their life savings or took loans to acquire the plots.
“We are appealing to the state government to help us recover this land. It belongs to NOA staff. Many of us are widows and pensioners who used loans or life savings to purchase it,” he added.
The protesters also cautioned members of the public against purchasing land in the disputed Uhuagu Obeagu-Uno area, noting that the matter is still pending before the court.
