The community of Umuohiadagu in Nekede, Owerri West Council Area of Imo State, staged a protest on Thursday at the government house in Owerri, urging Governor Hope Uzodimma to address allegations of land grabbing purportedly for the construction of a shopping mall for former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo.
During the protest, Oluchukwu Nnebugwu, speaking on behalf of the land allottees, and Pastor Pascal Iwuoha highlighted their grievances. Nnebugwu recounted that in 2012, Dr. J.P.K Anyanwu allegedly forged allocation letters for the Central Pocket Layout in collusion with government officials, selling the land to unsuspecting Imo residents for personal profit.
Nnebugwu further alleged that in 2023, Dr. Anyanwu, along with Joe Jonny Joyson Enterprise Ltd and Donez Global Services Ltd, defrauded the land allottees of Central Market Pocket Layout of millions of Naira by falsely claiming ownership of the land. He noted that 40% of the land had been allocated to the villages, while the remainder was given to the government, which then allocated it to investors. Despite never having their Certificates of Occupancy revoked, they witnessed a groundbreaking ceremony on their land for the shopping mall.
“We urge His Excellency, the Governor of Imo State, to publicly denounce these notorious land grabbers. Their actions tarnish the Governor’s good works. We demand an immediate halt to any further demolition of properties belonging to landowners and allottees until investigations are complete and the court case is resolved,” Nnebugwu stated.
