Onitsha South LG boss lacks authority to takeover Uzoeto's property, Anambra Assembly insists

 

By Okechukwu Onuegbu

Anambra State House of Assembly has ordered the Chairman of Onitsha South Local Government Area (LGA), Hon. Emeka Orji, to stop alleged encroachment on a private property belonging to Chief Sabest Uzoeto .

The Assembly, at a press conference addressed by the Chairman, House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Obi Nweke, said that no LG council boss has right to acquire people private property except the State government while acting on overriding public interest in consonance with extent laws of the land.

Orji, had in a statement issued by the Local Government Secretary, Mr. Paul Onuachalla, claimed that a parcel of land located along no. 39 Silas Works road, Fegge Layout, belonged to the Council, and they have acquired and used it for construction of fire station waiting for determination of suit pending on the matter and conclusion of investigation by the police at Zone 13, Ukpo. The Council also warned the State Assembly to keep off to avoid a subjudice.

But Nweke, flanked by other committee members, dismissed the LG Chairman's claims, noting that outcome of their investigation proved that the said property rightly belonged to Uzoeto and encroachment on it contravenes the rule of law, thereby amounting to illegality.

According to the State legislators, the LG Chairman should come forward with relevant court documents and ownership claims to the landed property or immediately handover the property to the owner rather than questioning their authority, because the House was empowered by Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) to intervene on such disputes.

He recalled that the Committee during their investigations, invited both parties, as well as sought a clarification from the State Ministry of Lands and other relevant agencies, and it was confirmed that the land rightly belonged to Uzoeto and their involvement was not sub-judice.