Anambra Land dispute: Police detain 4 on execution of court order
By Chinwe Nwacha, Onitsha
Four persons, (defendants), that included, the chairman of Ifite Nteje community, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra State, Chief Chinweze Egwuatu and three others were reportedly arrested and detained by the Police at Special Anti Cultism Squad, SPACS, headquarters, Enugwu Ukwu over land dispute.
The detained defendants were alleged to have been arrested while in a meeting shortly after the execution of the order of an Otuocha High court 3, sitting In Onitsha and Presided over by Hon. Justice Tagbo Anieto.
Contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Mr. Tochukwu Ikenga, (SP), said he was not aware of the arrest and subsequent detention.
However, a senior police officer who pleaded anonymity disclosed that, "The defendants (now suspects) are being detained in our Enugwu Ukwu SPACS headquarters, awaiting further directive from above".
Recall that the plaintiffs that include, Godwin Obiorah Ndua, Christopher Nwagu and Barr. Nnamdi Nwoye (for themselves and as representing other members of Obiogbo Agwa village, Ifite Nteje quarter, except the defendants and those they represent), dragged six defendants to court over Ifite Nteje land dispute.
Those defendants sued in the suit No. OT/157/2021, included, Chinweze Egwuatu, Emeka Nwabuisi, Christopher Nweke, Ebele Igbo, Amaechi Ndua (for themselves and on behalf of members Ifite Nteje excepting the plaintiffs), and Hon. Benjamin Erikife (for himself and on behalf of Ifite Nteje land Management committee.
Recall that the judge had after hearing the submissions of Sir Clem N. Nwoye Esq, for the plaintiffs and G.I. Ezeuko Esq, for the defendants, handed down his judgment on 20th day of June 2023.
In the judgment he ordered that, "The entire lands of Ifite Nteje quarter be immediately partitioned among the five villages of Ifite Nteje and I direct that each of the villages shall hold the portions of lands which they have farmlands as shown, delineated and verged in survey plan as EEO/AN, D/015/2022.
Also that, "Relief No. 1. having been granted, I hereby order directing the further partitioning of the portions of the lands now belonging to the plaintiffs' village as their own share of the Ifite Nteje land upon the partitioning stated in No. 1 above.
"I hereby order and cancel and also nullify all individual sales of the Ifite Nteje community land for being illegal and I make no order as to cost," the Judge affirmed.