80-year old widow petitions Anambra govt, Police over forceful takeover of property

An octogenarian, Mrs Anastasia Agbalaka of Ajanze Village, Nimo in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra has called on the Anambra Government and Commissioner of Police in the state to stop forceful takeover of her property by her neighbour.

Agbalaka who lost her husband in the 70s in a petition through her lawyer, Mr Ralph Okonkwo said a block of shops was being built by her neighbour one Chief Gabriel Obiefuna in front of the compound she had lived peacefully for over six decades.

The petition was entitled “Petition Against Illegal And Unapproved Building Structure Along Etiti Nimo/Abacha Feeder Road Within The Awka Capital Territory”.

The petitioner and her children Maxwell and Innocent Agbalaka claimed that the attempt to forcefully takeover their property started when she travelled to a foreign country on visit.

She noted that because nobody was around, Obiefuna forcefully entered her property.

Okonkwo said that the structure was standing vertically under electric pole had been identified as illegal and marked for demolition by the Anambra Physical Planning Authority.

“In spite the demolition notice on the structure, the man as we speak cleaned the inscription and continued to develop the illegal structure.

“Our worry is not only the encroachment, illegal and unapproved building being , but the speed of light which the structure in front of an already existing six stores is being erected.

“This structure did not meet the required set back of 10 feet in the construction of buildings close to feeder roads, for further developments by the government and high tension lines.

“Our clients and other members of their family take these threats of forceful takeover of property very seriously considering the viciousness of the annexure so far and also having due regard to the fact that as law abiding citizens, it will be of good standing to be on the side of the law,” she noted.

When contacted, Mr Onyeka Emmanuel, Executive Secretary, Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Njikoka Local Council Office said the position of government was clear as seen from the marking on the structure.

Emmanuel said his office had communicated the illegality of the structure to the Head office in Awka and waiting for the timeline to elapse for them to enforce it by demolishing it.

In a reaction, Obiefuna the alleged trespasser said the land in question was his own and that he was not taking over anybody’s land.

He claimed that his family gave the Agbalaka the land where they build their house and that why encroached into his land when they were building the fence.

Obiefuna said his family used to farm on the portion of land where he was building the stalls and now he wants to erect shops on it.