The senator representing Imo West senatorial district at the 9th Nigerian Senate, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has been accused of land grabbing and illegal demolition of a property in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.
All hell was let loose on Monday, October 14, when some persons dressed in police uniform, armed to the teeth, arrived at the land located in an estate in Lugbe, conveyed by a bus allegedly belonging to the former governor.
The said policemen, who stormed the estate in a commando-like manner upon arrival, created an atmosphere of panic and tension, when they started shooting sporadically into the air and firing tear gas indiscriminately at residents and workers at the building construction site.
Their intention was to enable them carry out what has been termed “an illegal and wicked demolition of buildings in the estate, in an attempt to forcefully take over the said land”.
The land in question, located in Lugbe on Airport Road, is owned by Bonatech Electricals Limited and the company has since dragged Okorocha, a former Imo State Governor, to the Federal High Court, in 2023, over the ownership of the property.
The matter was filed with suit number: FCT/HC/CV/6489/2023, and has ETHA VENTURES, belonging to Okorocha’s second son, Amen Rochas Okorocha, as defendant.
The protesters said: “Having seen the handwriting on the wall that his son may lose the case in court, following all empirical evidences and documents presented by the Plaintiff, Bonatech Electrical Limited, Okorocha and his son have been doing everything illegally possible, including attempts to induce staff of the Federal Capital Development Authority, to help them formalize their forged documents, while deploying his vast contacts and money to grab the massive land.
“Though both parties are still waiting for the final court judgment, it is imperative that the Okorocha family play by the books and respect rule of law rather than dancing naked in the marketplace.
“During the illegal demolition operation, to cover their track and leave no trace, the police officers deceived the workers on the building construction site that they came from FCDA.”
Bonatech Electrical Limited has called on the Minister of the FCT, Nyesom Wike; the Management of the FCDA; appropriate authorities; and all well meaning Nigerians to “call Okorocha and his family to order as this illegal way of grabbing land, which he has been used to and known for over the years, is not the way to go.
“He should follow due process and respect the rule of law,” they declared.
As at press time, Okorocha could not be reached for comments.
