Okpuno community dares Anambra Govt. Fines them N500M

Elders in Okpuno Community in Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State has threatened to drag the State Ministry of Lands to court for trespassing into their land without the concern of the community.

They alleged that the land, filled with economic trees was forcefully taken by the Governor Willie Obiano led government and sold out to some scrupulous elements in the state without knowing the history therein.

The community, through their Counsel, Barrister Mike Ikegbunam, who spoke to newsmen shortly after meeting with the Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Public Petition and Conflict Resolution on Thursday, at the House conference hall Awka, said the community is demanding a sum of N500 million damage from the State Government and the land grabbers, as a result of psychological trauma suffered by his clients (the community), in the cost of fighting to reclaim what belongs to them in the past 16 years.

He explained that the land which shares boundary with Awka capital city and two other communities, was initially acquired by the administration of former governors of Anambra State, Chief Chukwuemeka Ezeife and Governor Chinwoke Mbadinuju, which later returned back to the community following a complaint logged to address the matter. Unfortunately, Gov. Mbadinuju was removed from office and since then, the tussle has been on till this moment.

He said that the issue of global land acquisition as claimed by the Commissioner for lands, Mr Bonaventure Enemali did not come to the notice of the community and prayed the committee among other things to investigate the role of former Survey-General of the state and any other government official or department in the act with a view to sanctioning them.

While urging the state government to urgently go for the demarcation of the land for the sake of  peace, Ikegbunam, appealed  to  the police and other security agencies in the state to stop harassing the people of Okpuno.

In his brief speech, the Commissioner for Lands, Mr Bonaventure Enemali claimed that a compensation fee of seven million, five hundred and seventy six thousand naira was paid to the community by the state Government.