In 2009 the Ebonyi State government acquired the land of over 700 hectares. Then it proceeded to destroy the houses and economic trees. At the time, the excuse the government gave was that the people refused to vacate the land.
They heaved a sigh of relief when the present administration came on board and promised to compensate and resettle them. But the people of Ndieze Inyimegu Unuphu, Izzi-Amegu in Abakaliki Local Government Area of the state have run out of patience, and are now seeking redress in court.
According to history, Izzi-Amegu land belong to the state military cantonment even though that the people of their area are claiming that it is their ancestral home.
In 2009, the then government of Chief Martin Elechi struck a deal with the military who agreed to give the land to the state government. The government after necessary procedure acquired the land.
After the acquisition, the people of the area refused to vacate the land. The government had to use force and took over the land and immediately commenced developmental projects on some part of the land.
A lot of houses and other valuable properties were destroyed by the government which led to pockets of protests by the residents which did not produce any results as the then government insisted that it cannot pay compensation to the people.
Some of the residents vacated the land and relocated to other places. But many refused to leave even as their houses were destroyed. Some of them prepared local houses and remained in the land.
Last year, governor Dave Umahi who during his campaign in 2015 promised to compensate the people budgeting the sum of N120million which was approved by the state House of Assembly during a plenary.
But the people, who are running out of patient, took to legal action. The land is where ultra-modern workers secretariat and International Market were constructed by the state government. Some federal agencies were also built in the land called Centenary City.
Speaking to The Nation, a physically challenged woman Mrs. Maria Nwankwegu who is living under a roof which has been pulled down during demolition of structures in the area by the government, said she refused to leave because that place is her ancestral home.
She noted that she lost her husband and co-wife over shock when their house was demolished in 2012.
“I have been living under the demolished roof of my house since 2012 when government came into our land with soldiers and demolished houses. My husband and co-wife died of shock because of the demolition and I don’t have anybody living with me. My three children who were living with me and schooling, have dropped out of school and went to different cities in the country where they are hawking some goods’’, she said.
Meanwhile, in a suit brought before the federal high court, the community sued the Military, police and the state government for allegedly breaching their fundamental human rights.
In the suit which was filed by Chief Egbarada Nwanknwegu, Chief Nwibo Nwogbaga, Chief Christopher Nwaifuru, Comrade Sunday Ogbaga, Mrs. Maria Nkwegu and Mrs. Felicia Igwe on behalf of the community, the people ‘alleged that the respondents violated their fundamental human rights of human dignity, private and family life contrary to sections 34 and 37 of th;e Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999(as amended).
The applicants also alleged that the respondents breached their fundamental rights to economic, social and cultural development, general satisfactory environment favourable to their development, and freedom from spoliation, contrary to Articles 17(2), 21, 22 and 24 of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights , Cap A9, Laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004.
The applicants further alleged that the respondents unlawfully, forcefully and without lawful authority, entered into their lands with bulldozers and other demolition equipment, destroyed, demolished and cleared away some of their homes, farms and economic tress in December 2013 and 22nd November, 2016.
According to the suit which was filed yesterday, the unlawful actions of the respondents rendered the affected applicants homeless, broke their families apart and brought starvation upon the applicants.
The applicants however sought injunction restraining the respondents from arresting them, carrying out any further evacuation, demolition and/or destruction of their homes, buildings, farmlands, economic trees, etc, on the community.
They also sought N1billion exemplary damages against the respondents.
Meanwhile, ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the applicants’ counsel, the law firm of Ani and Edema at the Federal High court sitting in Abakaliki, the presiding judge, Justice Akintayo Aluko ordered parties to the disputed Abakaliki new capital city otherwise known as centenary city, to maintain status quo in further development of the new city, pending the determination of the substantive suit filed by the indigenous land owners against the violation of their fundamental human rights by the state government and the Nigerian Army.
Meanwhile, The Nigerian Army has denied selling a land housing the new Abakaliki capital city to Ebonyi state government.
In a counter affidavit deposed by the army as respondent to a suit instituted by some indigenes and inhabitants of the disputed land, Ndieze Inyimegu village, the army denied previous ownership of the land.
The state government had rushed to the court room, pleading to be allowed to file it’s counter affidavit out of time.
The applicants are contending that the Nigerian Army and Ebonyi State government have continued to unlawfully demolish their humble homes and livelihood.
The matter was adjourned to May 3, 2017 for further hearing.
