Umuowa community accuses former Imo Commissioner, Mbanaso of grabbing, selling community lands

…As Imo Government promises to intervene

BY JENNIFER JOHN / OWERRI

Umuowa community in Imo State has accused former State Commissioner under erstwhile Governor Rochas Okorocha of grabbing and selling their communal lands.

Members of the community made this accusation when they paid a courtesy visit on the Deputy Chief of Staff General Services, Chief Ferdinand Uzodimma in his office at the state Government House.

Addressing members of the community, Chief Uzodimma made it clear that nobody, no matter how highly placed will be allowed to grab community land, adding that the charges that holds land grabbers will hold the person.

The Deputy Chief of Staff made it clear that the Governor did not authorize any person to parcelate or sell community lands in any part of the state, stating that any person doing so is a fraudster and must be treated as one.

He promised to convey their message to the Governor, expressing confidence that appropriate action will be taken.

“His Excellency will never tolerate any individual causing breach of peace in any community in the state or people dropping his name to commit fraud”, he said.

Chief Uzodimma promised that the Special Adviser to the Governor on Land Recovery will be detailed to take appropriate action, including visiting the community to see things for himself and hearing from members of the community.

Earlier while disclosing the reason for their visit, the Traditional Prime Minister (TPM) of Umuowa, Pharmacist Emma Ebere complained that some individuals in the community were making move arching to violence, such as seeking autonomous Community without consensus.

He specifically pointed at Ichie Mbanaso who he said has been parceling some sections of the community’s lands and selling them, with the claims that he has the mandate of the governor to do so.

They also used the opportunity to show their solidarity to the Deputy Chief of Staff, who is an in-law of the community.

Editor

Jude Ossai (JP) a veteran journalist is a National Diploma holder in Mass Communication from Ogwashi-Uku Polytechnic Ogwashi-Uku, Delta State. He also studied at Enugu State University of Science and Technology (ESUT) Enugu and Imo State University, Owerri for his first and second degrees in Mass Communication, respectively. He writes extensively on politics, crime, corruption, climate change, healthcare, human rights, social justice, among others.