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The Committee set up by Imo State Government for the recovery of land belonging to Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE), Owerri, has indicted a former governor of the State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, for using brute force to disposses the College of its land.
Submitting its report to Governor Hope Uzodimma, the Committee recommended the recovery of the Shell Camp land from Okorocha and his associates within six months and hand over same to AIFCE.
The report which was signed by the Committee Chairman,Prof Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe and the Secretary, Barr B F Anyanwu, emphasized that Okorocha when he was governor of the State, used brute force by deploying the military and hoodlums to snatch the land from the College, after which he allocated or sold same to his top associates.
According to the Committee report, those who benefited from the illegal sale of the land and have been directed to vacate the property, include two of Okorocha”s in laws, Dr Uzoma Anwuka and Hon Kingsley Uju, a former member of the House of Representatives.
Aside Okorocha”s inlaws, a former Speaker of Imo State House of Assembly, Chief Acho Ihim, Chief Charles Orie, Prince Charles Amadi and Chief Ugochukwu Hillary, also benefited from the illegal acquisition.
The Committee revealed that Okorocha ordered the demolition of 101 buildings belonging to staff of the College and thereafter confiscated their property.
It therefore urged the Imo State Executive Council” to direct the recovery of all the lands belonging to AIFCE, which are now illegally in the hands of individuals and institutions”
It further asked the Imo State government to ensure the recovery of the land within six months and thereafter issue a certificate of occupancy to the College.
“AIFCE should take full possession of the vacated land and property immediately upon recovery while the Commissioner for Lands and OCDA should recover the land within six months”, the committee recommended.
It further recommended that AIFCE should pay the agreed compensation to Orji indigenes who are the original owners of the land, while the Nigerian Army should vacate the shanties they erected in the land and finally move to Obinze in Owerri West Local Government Area.
In his speech, Governor Hope Uzodimma, thanked the committee for doing a thorough job and promised that the State government would take all necessary steps in accordance with due process to implement the committee’s recommendations.