Anambra Assembly orders Onitsha South Mayor to hands off Uzoeto’s property

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By Madu Obi

The Anambra State House of Assembly has come hard on the Mayor of Onitsha South local government area, Hon. Emeka Orji, ordering him to stay off a private property belonging to an Onitsha businessman, Chief Sabest Uzoeto,

Chairman of the House Committee on Public Petitions, Hon. Obi Nweke, while briefing journalists at the House of Assembly complex, said a petition was brought before the House by Chief Uzoeto, who alleged that his property at No. 39 Silas Works Road, Fegge, Onitsha, was forcefully taken over by Onitsha South council boss.

The lawmaker said the House, in line with its constitutional powers under Sections 128 and 129 of the 1999 Constitution, invited both parties, investigated the matter, and sought clarification from the Ministry of Lands, where the ministry confirmed that the property in question legally belongs to Chief Uzoeto.

Hon. Nweke noted that the committee was satisfied that the case was not sub judice as it was not before any court in Nigeria and had never been litigated in the past and therefore indicted the mayor for acting beyond his powers.

According to Nweke, Onitsha South Mayor has no powers to acquire anybody’s land, adding that only the governor can do that for overriding public interest, and therefore described the action of the local government chairman as illegal and unacceptable.

The lawmaker frowned at media reports where the Onitsha South chairman allegedly claimed that the matter was in court and that the property belonged to him, describing it as an attempt to undermine the integrity of the Assembly which ordered him to stay clear.

The House Committee had recommended that the Onitsha South Mayor should immediately stay off the property, compensate Chief Uzoeto for the items destroyed during the demolition, and desist from usurping the constitutional powers of the governor.