The people of Umuawo Ejemekwuru community in Oguta Local Government Area of Imo State have raised alarm over what they described as an attempt to dispossess them of their ancestral land by a property company, 4Zee Properties, and a radio presenter, Chinonso Theodore Ubah, popularly known as Nonsonkwa.
At a World Press Conference in Owerri on Saturday, the community accused the company and its associates of encroaching on their farmland, insisting that ownership of the disputed area, known as Mbutu Agwa, had long been settled in their favour through judicial and traditional rulings.
“Our community stands on centuries of peaceful co-existence with our neighbours, and our ownership of the land in question is not only ancient and undisputed in history, but has been confirmed by multiple rulings spanning more than three decades,” said Chief McAnthony Ikeama, who spoke on behalf of the community.
He recalled that in August 1986, a landmark judgment delivered by two respected monarchs, Eze A.G.I. Emetuma of Awa and Eze E.U. Dureke of Ogbaku, confirmed the Ubani family of Umualaeri, Umuogba, Umuawo, Ejemekwuru, as the rightful owners of the land. Boundaries were also clearly marked by ancient trees such as Uturukpa, Icheku, and Ubachara palm tree.
“After thorough inspections and submissions, the monarchs unequivocally ruled that the farmland belongs to Chief Christopher Ubani of Umualaeri Umuawo, representing our people. That ruling remains a sacred document of justice,” Ikeama explained.
The community further pointed out that in February 2017, the Ejemekwuru Town Union reaffirmed ownership of the farmland after fresh investigations.
According to Ikeama, “The Union observed that even where pledges or leases existed in the past, the ownership never left Umuawo Ejemekwuru. The land has always belonged to the Ubani family.”
They also presented recent documents of redemption, including a temporary cash receipt dated January 20, 2023, signed by HRH, Eze P.I. Ngoamaka of Okwu Ogbaku, which acknowledged the payment of one million naira by Chief Sir D. Ubani as full redemption of earlier pledges. Another letter from the monarch confirmed that a further sum of two million naira had been paid to conclusively settle all outstanding claims.
“These documented redemptions leave no doubt whatsoever about ownership. It is therefore shocking that some people are trying to rewrite history and dispossess us of our inheritance,” the community declared.
They accused the property company and the radio presenter of working with some individuals in moves to illegally sell portions of the farmland and intimidate locals.
“They have recruited thugs to harass our farmers, destroy crops and vandalize boundaries. Innocent men and women who depend on the land for survival have been attacked,” they alleged.
They lamented that despite multiple rulings and proof of redemption, law enforcement agencies had yet to act decisively.
“Their continued impunity threatens not only our survival but also the very foundation of law and order in Imo State,” Ikeama warned.
They called on Governor Hope Uzodimma to urgently direct security agencies to intervene, while also urging the Inspector General of Police, the Attorney-General of the Federation, and the National Human Rights Commission to investigate and prosecute those responsible.
“We are not dealing with a land dispute here. This is a fight for justice, survival, and the preservation of our heritage,” they said.
Reaffirming their commitment to peace, they warned prospective buyers to avoid any transaction involving the disputed farmland.
“Anyone who purchases land from these individuals does so at their own peril. We are law-abiding citizens, but we will not fold our arms while our heritage is taken away,” Ikeama stressed.
