Members of the public have been warned against purchasing parcels of land at the Villa Estate Layout Phase 11, Ozalla Abor, Enugu State.
The warning came from the Ozalla Abor community, which is currently locked in a legal tussle with Enugu State Housing Corporation over the land at the location known as Villa Estate Layout Phase 11.
According to a press release, signed by Onyechi J.N, Chairman of Ozalla Abor General Assembly and made available to MSN over the weekend, the community said there is a pending court case over the matter and therefore no one has any right to sell any of the parcels of land at the location.
The statement reads: “The Ozalla Abor community are the undisputed owners of the parcel of land situate at and called Villa Estate Layout. Ozalla Abor Phase11, Enugu North local government area, Enugu State, which they inherited from their ancestors and were in exclusive possession thereof on the passing of the land use act in 1978 under which they became entitled to a Customary right of occupancy over the same.
“As the original rightful owners in possession, the Ozalla Abor Community sometime in 2009 laid out the said parcel of land which is now known as and called Villa Estate Layout Phase 11, Ozalla Abor and allocated same to their male members, who in turn sold some of their allocations to diverse persons.
“The said Villa Estate Layout Phase 11, Ozalla Abor is a registered layout with the Ministry of Lands and Urban Development, described in PLAN NO: EOA/EN144/2015.”
The community said that sometime in May 2017, the allotees and the community became aware of the presence of bulldozers and caterpillars on the land, and upon enquiries, were informed that the Enugu State government, in collaboration with the Ministry of Housing, Enugu State were perfecting plans to resell parcels of land in the said location under a new name Legacy Estate.
“On the 10th of May 2017, our counsel served the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Hon. Attorney-General of Enugu State and Commissioner Enugu State Housing Development Corporation a pre-action notice and also filed an interlocutory injunction restraining them from entering the said land which was granted on the 31st day of July 2017.
“On the 7th September 2017 after the expiration of the pre-action notice, a writ of summons was filed in suit No: E/518/2017 between the Ozalla Abor Community as 1st set of plaintiffs and Mr. Charles Ogbonna Asogwa & 3Ors as 1st set of defendants. Later Ugwunani Abor and Eziama Nike applied to be joined and were joined on 28th may 2018 as 2nd and 3rd sets of defendants. The 1st set of defendants have filed their pleadings and the suit is currently pending before Hon. Justice C.C. Ani (Phd) MCIArB and ready for hearing.
“This May 2021, Ozalla Abor community noticed the presence of bulldozers and tractors in another part of the Villa Estate Layout Phase 11. On enquiry it was revealed that it was the current General Manager of Housing Corporation (Hon. Chukwuemelie Agu), in collaboration with the Ugwunani Abor community (the 2nd sets of defendants) in the above-mentioned suit (that had) started trespassing on the said Villa Estate Layout Phase 11, Ozalla, despite the pendency of the above suit and injunction, thereby attempting to foist on the court a “fait accomplis”.
“We therefore urge the General Manager Housing Corporation (Hon. Chukwuemelie Agu) not to take any action that will have the effect of destroying ‘the res’ herein as a court of competent jurisdiction is now seised of the matter.
“The conduct of the general manager Housing Corporation and Ugwunani Abor community is patently illegal, contemptuous, totally at variance with the tenets of constitutional democracy and is a sad reminder of an era which most of us thought was behind us. The penchant of those in high office to undermine the powers of court and continue to impugn its integrity amounts to highest level of irresponsibility.
“It is our considered view that we cannot truly make progress as a nation unless we respect and abide by the Rule of law.
As we acknowledge the good governance of our amiable Governor, Rt. Hon. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, we urge him to take steps towards curtailing the excesses and the illegalities of the General Manager, Housing Corporation Hon. Chukwuemelie Agu in order to forestall his attempt to drag the hard earned reputation of the Governor in the mud in his quest for land-grabbing,” the community said in the statement.
The community advised the corporation and the buying public to steer clear of the said land.
