Anambra indigenes sue Obiano, others over revocation of land

Hundreds of Anambra State indigenes residing in Kaduna have filed a suit challenging the state government over an alleged revocation of over 200 plots of land allocated to them by Dr. Chinwoke Mbadinuju in 2000.

The aggrieved people under the aegis of Anambra State Indigenes Welfare Association (ASIWA), Kaduna branch, who also joined the state Commissioner of Police and a private developer in the case frowned at the development where a private developer, had continued to demolish structures that were already at various stages of completion in the area.

They argued that there was existing order of the court directing the defendants to stay action on the said land, which Mbadinuju allocated to them to attract indigenes of the state in the Diaspora.

Counsel to the association, Mr. Stanley Mbanaso said their prayer was that government should not tamper with the 200 plots originally allocated to Anambra indigenes in Kaduna and the 51 plots allocated to the 21 local government areas in the same estate, which were already developed to appreciable levels.

He however explained that should the state government go on to revoke the plots in the interest of the state, it should pay adequate compensation to the owners and not to allow a private developer to start demolishing structures belonging to his clients.

In his argument, Mr. Vitus Ewuzie, a lawyer, said the association reached an understanding with the Mbadinuju administration that after the allocation, they will pay obtain all the documentations and pay all the necessary fees.

He said most of them have developed their plots to the foundation level and raised the buildings up to the lintel level before a firm started demolishing the structures. He added that on inquiry it was discovered that the state governor had allocated the land to a private developer.

He also said that when they wanted to commence actual development, youths from the host community became very hostile, prompting the association to buy the land from them.