The Igbariam community, host to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, has taken legal action against Governor Chukwuma Soludo and the Anambra State Government.
Angel Network News (ANN) gathered that
the community is seeking to reclaim their land, approximately 2,415 hectares, which was acquired by the old Eastern Region for farm settlement.
In a motion filed at the Awka High Court, the community, represented by President General Chris Oforkansi and others, is seeking an interim injunction to restrain the government and university from further encroaching on their land.
The community argues that the original purpose of the land acquisition was abolished in 1976, and the land should be returned to its original owners.
The community’s counsel, Vincent Makam, stated that the interim injunction is necessary to prevent further harm to the community, as the state government has taken over the land for the university and proposed agriculture university without their consent.
The state government’s counsel, Ezeagu Obianuju, countered that the government has a memorandum of understanding with the Igbariam community and is in possession of the land legally.
ANN reports that Justice Jude Obiora of the Anambra State High Court sitting in Awka will on 30th of August 2024 hear further on a motion the Igbariam community in Anambra East Local Goverment Area brought against the Governor of the state, Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioners for Agriculture and Lands over “Farm Settlement Igbariam”.
Other proposed respondents after expiration of the statutory time for pre action notices already served on them are Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Lynden Integrated Farms Limited and Coscharis Group Farms, all in Igbariam.
Pending their filing of the suit, the Igbariam community, in “Motion on notice for interim injunction/ interim preservative order”, is among other things praying the court for an order of interim injunction against the 1st to 7th proposed defendants/respondents by themselves, their servants, agents, privies, consorts, officials or thugs whomsoever, and restraining them from further adverse occupation, possession, trespass, sales of land or other activities on “All that Land described as ‘Farm Settlement Igbariam’ in Plan No. MEC/73/58 dated 14/ 08 /1958 and Plan No. OA. C. 60 dated 12/2/62 belonging from time immemorial to the 1st to 10th proposed plaintiffs/applicants, Igbariam Amanasa Community, which is the subject of the proposed suit and pre action notices served this August 2024 on the 1st to 7th proposed defendants/ respondents.
Senior State Counsel, Obianuju Ezeagu, who represented Anambra State Government told the court that there is no need for the community to institute legal action against the state government and others since government is in possession of the land based on Memorandum of Understanding, MoU, the people of Igbariam entered with the old Eastern regional government.
But addressing journalists after court proceedings, Counsel to the proposed plaintiffs, Vincent Makam, said Igbariam community has suffered a lot, and has only come out to repossess their possession.
Makam explained that farm settlement was abolished by the government of Ukpabi Asika in 1973, and that the then government of Eastern region entered agreement with Igbariam community that the land will return to them upon abolition of farm settlement; documents he said will be availed the court.
On his confidence that the court will grant the interim order, Barrister Makam said the court does so to avoid breakdown of law and order, saying that youths of the community are being held by the rope.
President General of Igbariam Progress Union, Dr Chris Offokansi, said that the community is in court because of its peaceful disposition, but regretted that members of the community had been tagged aggressors, IPOB and ESN members for trying to reclaim their commonwealth.
Offokansi recalled that the farm settlement was established in 1962 by the then Premier of Eastern Nigeria, Michael Okpara, solely for agricultural purpose, saying that their land should be returned to them if no longer used for the intended purpose; as is the case with Agbudu Nando that had own contribution of the land, Uzowani in Enugu State, and Ohaji Egbema in Imo State.
Lending her voice, the President General, Women Wing of Igbariam Progress Union, Mrs Maureen Akwuba, said they want government to hands off their source of livelihood.
