The Onuogba-Nike and Ezza-Nkomoro communities in Enugu East Local Government Area have collectively affirmed that Professor Barth Nnaji, former Minister for Power and Chairman of Geometric Power, is not a land grabber but a legitimate investor who acquired land for an auto assembly plant and power generation purposes.
BACKGROUND ON ALLEGATIONS
Recent media reports highlighted protests from some members of the Ezza-Nkomoro community, who accused Prof Nnaji of land grabbing as he sought to reclaim land at Onuogba-Nike, located off the Enugu-Abakaliki highway.
COMMUNITY REACTION
In a press conference held in Enugu on Tuesday, representatives from both communities clarified that these accusations were unfounded and criticized those behind them. Chief Emmanuel Ubosi, former President General of Onuogba-Nike, explained that the accusers were migrants from Ezza-Agu in Ebonyi State, who were given a specific portion of Onuogba-Nike land to live on and had no claim to the rest of the land.
Ubosi recounted that the Ezza people were invited to settle in Onuogba-Nike in 1956 due to conflicts with a neighboring community. Despite the agreement made at that time, which included traditional oath-taking and covenant, the Ezza people had reportedly attempted to extend their settlement beyond the agreed boundaries.
LEGAL CONTEXT
Prof Nnaji’s legal counsel, Benjamin Nwobodo, emphasized that while the land dispute was in court, the Ezza community did not present any documents to challenge the ownership of the land purchased by Prof Nnaji from Alinta in 1978. The court ruled in favor of Onuogba-Nike, and subsequent appeals by the Ezza community were unsuccessful.
Elder Nweke Agbom, Vice Chairman of the caretaker committee of the Ezza-Nkomoro settlement, corroborated the historical account of the settlement agreement, affirming that the land in question was rightfully acquired and that the Ezza people had initially been welcomed under a formal agreement.
CONCLUSION
The communities’ statements reinforce Prof Nnaji’s position as a legitimate landowner and investor, countering the allegations of land grabbing and emphasizing the longstanding agreements and legal rulings in favor of his land acquisition.