THE Umuaniabor family of Amechi Uwani community in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State has dragged the state government to court for alleged 'illegal' acquisition and sale of their ancestral lands.
The matter, which is pending before an Enugu Federal High Court, will come up for hearing on May 16, 2017.
The state governor, attorney-general, commissioner for Land and the commissioner of police, as well as FIT Consult Ltd. and Extreme Quality Ltd., were listed as respondents in the suit numbered FHC/EN/CS/129/2016.
In the suit filed on their behalf by the Registered Trustees of Initiative for Advancement of Fundamental Rights in Nigeria, the community accused the state government of fraudulently acquiring their ancestral lands and selling same to members of the public.
The plaintiffs averred that when the government announced plans to acquire one of the ancestral lands, Akani Zhinne land, they were made to believe the property would be put to public use for the benefit of the community and the entire people of the state.
They alleged that the land and others belonging to the community were, instead, sold to members of the public at huge sums by the state government.
In an affidavit in support of the originating summons, a member of the Registered Trustees of Initiative for Advancement of Fundamental Rights in Nigeria, Nsude Oguejiofor, noted that the state government's interest in the property had fueled violence in the community, leading to the killing of three indigenes, namely Nnaemeka Agbo, Sunday Nnamani and Nnamani Ikpa, in 2015.
Oguejiofor explained that Enugu State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, visited the community to announce plans by the government to use its ancestral land, Akani Zhinne land, for projects that would benefit the entire state.
Continuing, he said, "The Igwe (traditional ruler) of Amechi Uwani and other leaders of the community informed the governor that the community has no other property elsewhere except the Akani Zhinne property.
"The governor, having absorbed the thoughts, feelings, frustrations and anger pervading the community, promised to come back with juicy palliatives to cushion the plight of the people of Amechi Uwani community."
Oguejiofor maintained that the promise was not kept, saying, "Rather, to the chagrin of the community, the Commissioner of Police, Enugu State, dispatched ferocious cops to Amechi Uwani community.
Members of the community, through their lawyer, Sam Egbo, are asking the court to declare that the acquisition and sale of the parcels of land by the state government is not in the interest of the public, describing the act as illegal, unlawful, unconstitutional, and null and void.
They equally asked the court to revoke the acquisition of the ancestral land by the state government, as well as an order restraining the respondents from selling the property.
They also demanded the sum of N20bn as payment for uncompleted buildings and economic crops, which were destroyed by the respondents while taking possession of the property, among others.
In its preliminary objections, the government challenged the jurisdiction of the court to entertain the suit, which it want dismissed.
Meanwhile, youths from the community have staged a protest over the alleged illegal acquisition of their ancestral lands by the state government.
Chanting solidarity songs during the protest in Enugu, the youths brandished placards, some of which read, 'Gov. Ugwuanyi, please, relocate us', 'FG, save our community', 'No hope for our children', and 'Ugwuanyi, imitate Amosun of Ogun State', and 'We say no to land grabbers'.
