Trouble as community drags Enugu Labour Party guber candidate to court over land dispute
The village people of Agu-Amede in Eha-Amufu community in Isi-Uzo local government council has today approached the Customary Court in Eha-Amufu over the forceful seizure of their lands by the former Enugu Commissioner for Environment, Barr. Chijioke Jonathan Edeoga, now the gubernatorial candidate of Labour Party in Enugu State.
In the Suit no: EAUCC/ 4L/2022, the plaintiff asked the court to stop the encroachment on the land which already has building activities ongoing.
Some of the villagers who stormed the Customary court in Eha-Amufu today lamented bitterly how the guber candidate has on numerous occasions seized people’s lands with his political power. The elders who are mostly septuagenarians lamented that Chijioke Edeoga’s political positions since 1998 till today has been used for covetion, intimidation and conversion of people’s properties to his own family property. The elders who went ahead to pour out their grievances, said that they had 25 years of sorrow since Chijioke joined politics.
Pouring curses on him, one of the elders, Abuguja James queried how a young man like Edeoga will be so interested in grabbing people’s lands, seizing people’s palm plantations in the name that government has designated the land for public purpose while later on, Edeoga will start harvesting the fruits in the land.
“We are not the only one on this ill-metted treatment of Edeoga, other Villages like Abor, Ihanyi, Orokoro, Isu, Umuju and Umujoovu have suffered same fate but each time anyone threatens a legal action, he will tell them that government owns the land and as a government official, he has his influence on the government”.
Another elder who described himself as elder Igwebuike Christopher said that the intimidation and marginalization have gotten to an extent they couldn’t endure any more. Mr Igwebuike said that this action was propelled by their sons and daughters living abroad, and said they are prepared to get what belongs to them no matter what it may cost them. He said, “we shall fight it to an end, enough is enough. A man does not sit and watch a goat deliver in theter”.
Meanwhile, the Court has adjourned the matter for hearing on Wednesday, 23 November, 2022.
