Enugu Community raises alarm over alleged plot to demolish their properties

The people of Nkomoro Onuogba-Nike in Enugu East Local Government area of Enugu State have raised the alarm, alleging that the former Minister for Power, Prof Barth Nnaji has concluded arrangement to demolish their properties for the third time.

The community has been having a running battle with the former Minister over some hectares of land which the minister bought from one late Surveyor Alinta in 2005 and which the residents said is their community, they had lived on before the transaction took place.

Legal aides to Prof Nnaji however said that the former Minister has given the community enough time and compensation to vacate the property but that the people remained obstinate.

Nnaji denied allegations of land grabbing and forceful eviction by the community members noting that he acquired the land in 2005 from the original owner for an auto manufacturing industry and independent power project.

But in save our soul statement which the community made, on Tuesday, the Nkomoro Onuogba-Nike said that they don't have any direct matter with Nnaji but with one Alinta who they said he sold their community land to Nnaji.

The Publicity Secretary of the community, Mr. Peter Egede, said that the matter is before the Enugu Division of the Court of Appeal and wondered why the former Minister is hatching a fresh plot to further demolish the remaining parts of their community.

Egede said, "Professor Bartholomew Nnaji, you demolished our properties in 2014 we didn't respond to you, in 2024 you repeated it again we didn't respond. This is a matter before a court of competent Jurisdiction, in the Appeal Court in Enugu State, suit number CA/E/374/2016.

"Despite that we don't have any litigation matter with Professor Bartholomew Nnaji, this case started since 1974. The person our community had land dispute with is Alinta, former NNPC Surveyor of which Bartholomew Nnaji Knew that the said land was in dispute, yet he bought it in 2005 and started demolition without adhering to the rule of law.

"Nnaji will cause a communal war in Enugu State. Enough is enough. We are appealing to all the stakeholders to call Bartholomew Nnaji to order."