- As hot communities demand immediate stoppage of enumeration
On December 20, 2024, a state High Court sitting in Okpuala Ngwa jurisdiction, Isiala Ngwa North and presided over by Justice Enyinnaya Okezie, had granted a STAY OF EXECUTION ORDER against the Abia state government, following a suit filed by representatives of the affected Nsulu host communities in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area for the proposed Abia Airport project.
The communities include Ikputu, Umuikeocha Umuode, Umuezeukwu, Umuogu, Uwaomaikoo Umuosu, Umuata Umuosu, Umule Umuosu, Okpulorukwu Umuosu, Umuogele Umuosu, Umuodeche, Ubaha, Umuala, Umuezenta Nbawsi, Mbubo, and Umuomainta Nbawsi.
At the resumed hearing of Suit No. HIN/62/2024, on February 18, 2025, at the state High Court, Okpuala Ngwa, the Legal Representative of the affected Nsulu Host Communities, Chukwuemeka Nwaogu appeared for the claimants, while Ngozi Onwugbufor from the Ministry of Justice, Civil Litigation Department, Abia State Ministry of Justice, represented the state government.
Addressing the Court on February 18, 2025, Chukwuemeka Nwaogu expressed gratitude of the Nsulu people on the order of the Court, which he said, has brought sanity as the parties have started the process of discussion, and thanked the defendants ( Abia state government) for abiding by the pronouncment of the Court as the parties are discussing with the people; Abia state government on one side and the host communities, led by Dr. Max Nduaguibe on the other side.
” I may not report in reality the position of the peaceful settlement but it’s in progress and ongoing”, Nwaogu told the Court.
Responding, the Abia state government representative, Ngozi Onwugbufor told the Court that, the issue of negotiation is not what he would go into details because, he was not properly informed on the position but added, ” If negotiation is going – on, i will appreciate the peaceful negotiation”.
At this juncture, the presiding Judge, Justice Enyinnaya Okezie adjourned the matter to the March 25, 2025 to report on the progress of negotiations.
Speaking to newsmen, the counsel to Nsulu host communities, Chukwuemeka Nwaogu, said the stay of EXECUTION ORDER made by the Court on December 20, 2024 against Abia state government not to clear the land or displace the land owners still subsists but happy that negotiations are still on going by both parties until both return to Court on March 25, 2025.
Reacting, the Village Head of the Host Communities and Land Owners, Engr. Ikechukwu Uche pointed out that they have observed with dismay that despite the subsisting court order, the state government has continued activities on the land, including cutting paths and enumeration, even when agreements are not reached, and the actual size of the land not yet known by the land owners” It’s only when you know the size of the land that enumeration of land owners within that catchment area can start”, but they are always quick to take actions that can cause breach of peace” quried a village head.
Engr. Uche therefore calls on Abia state government, the Chief of staff to the Governor, Pastor Caleb Ajagba and the Special Assistant to the Governor on Lands and Housing who doubles as the Project Coordinator of the Abia Airport Project, Pastor Okorougo Aji to follow due process, insisting that to know the actual size of the Land and it’s map officially communicated to them, will give the host communities the latitude to engage their own private Surveyor to ascertain the size as claimed by the government. ” This is the first step to take, before enumeration”, he added. He therefore, asked the Abia state government team to stop the enumeration until the actual size of the land is determined.
Echezolam Ukaumunna, admonished the state government to uphold the sanctity of the judiciary by halting all engagements concerning the land until the official release of the land mass by the government and the endorsement of the land mass by Nsulu people through negotiations, and not by force, he concluded.
