Emma Elekwa
Landlords from various estates in Umunya community, Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State, have protested alleged harassment, intimidation, assault, extortion and threats to life within their estates.
The protesters accused the Chairman of Ajakpani Village, Chief Sunday Udebunu, popularly known as “Owoh,” and some suspected thugs of masterminding the acts, including the imposition of illegal levies and conduct capable of causing a breach of peace.
Carrying placards with different inscriptions, the protesters appealed to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to intervene and protect them from what they described as continuous harassment.
Some of the placards read: “Sunday Udebunu leave us alone,” “Owoh stop using thugs on us,” “Say no to illegal levies,” and “Stop attacking Estate landlords and workers.”
Speaking to journalists, Chairman of the Estate Landlords, Chief Stephen Oforleh, alleged that hoodlums have been attacking workers at various construction sites with machetes and guns by hoodlums allegedly acting on Udebunu’s instructions.
According to him, many artisans have abandoned work because of fear and intimidation.
“We have lived here since 2010 and paid all necessary dues to Umunya community before developing the estates,” Oforleh said.
“We did not buy the land from Ajakpani Village but from the Nwoye Udama family, which earlier acquired it from Eziumunya village.
“Since we took possession over a decade ago, no Ajakpani leadership has ever demanded levies from us because they know the land does not belong to them.”
N500,000 request
He alleged that shortly after Udebunu assumed office last year, he arrived at the estates with over 40 armed youths and demanded N500,000 per building as Ajakpani Development Union levy.
Oforleh explained that the landlords, through their lawyer, Madukaego Uzoigwe & Associates, rejected the demand, insisting the estates were located on Eziumunya land and outside Ajakpani jurisdiction.
“Despite legal warnings, the harassment has continued,” he said.
“He keeps sending thugs to threaten and assault workers, seize tools and force victims to transfer as much as N100,000 before releasing them. Two victims include Mr Michael Aniekwe and Arinze Brazil.”
He said they have lodged complaints earlier with the President-General of Umunya community, who promised to intervene, but the alleged intimidation persisted.
Oforleh further alleged that after attack on two northern workers, some aggrieved relatives later vandalized his in-law’s shop in retaliation.
“We are calling on Governor Soludo to rescue us because his administration does not tolerate thuggery or actions capable of discouraging development,” he added.
The landlords also appealed to the Chairman of Oyi Local Government Area, Emma Nweke, and the member representing Oyi Constituency in the State House of Assembly, Sir Innocent Ojike, to intervene.
Also speaking, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Nwoyeugo, first son of one of the land sellers, maintained that the estates were not located on Ajakpani land.
“The landlords bought the land many years ago after making full payment.
“Previous Ajakpani leaders never interfered with them. The present leadership should make proper inquiries before causing trouble,” he said.
An elder from Eziumunya village, Chief Udeani Nweke Ugboaku, also confirmed that FESTAC Villa Housing Estate and surrounding estates were on Eziumunya land and not Ajakpani territory.
He warned Udebunu to stay away from the estates and assured that Eziumunya leadership would step into the matter.
No levy collected – Udebunu
However, when contacted, Udebunu denied the allegations of extortion and violence, insisting that he had not collected any levy from the landlords.
“We did not collect any levy from them. If some youths received money, maybe it was just food money,” he said.
“There are youths roaming around in every community. No landlord has officially paid us any levy.”
He stated that Ajakpani village shares a boundary with FESTAC Villa Housing Estate and argued that the land was sold by indigenes of Ajakpani village.
“We are still investigating because we were not in leadership when the land transactions happened.
“We only wrote to the estate landlords and discussions are ongoing,” he explained.
Udebunu said the village leadership would further consult those who sold the land as well as Eziumunya leaders to determine the true ownership of the disputed area.
