N1bn Abuja land deal: Ukachukwu not indebted - Group

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By Madu Obi

The Digital Force, a pressure group within the All Progressives Congress (APC), has come in defense of the Anambra State governorship candidate for the November 8 election, Prince Nicholas Ukachukwu, over alleged N billion land deal in Abuja.

A recent viral video showed Prince Ukachukwu being harassed by some people who alleged that he is indebted to them to the tune of N1billion.

In a statement signed by its team leader, Mr Ikeagwuonwu Chinedu Klinsmann, the group threatened legal action against those who alegedly made the allegation and circulated the video.

According to Ikeagwuonwu, defamation of character is not free speech, but a criminal offense, adding that Evang. Ukachukwu’s legal team reserves the right to pursue appropriate remedies against the collaborators.

He said: "The land transaction in question was governed by a duly signed Installment payment agreement between Evang. Ukachukwu (vendor) and Zoe New Dawn Nigeria Ltd, chaired by Chief Stephen Achema Akpa (purchaser), executed on 11th August, 2022, covering Plots 7 and 8, Cadastral Zone E29, Lugbe East, Abuja, valued at N6billion.

The agreement clearly provided for staggered payment: an initial deposit of N1.75billion, followed by structured instalment to complete the purchase price. But Mr. Stephen Akpa could not come up with this initial deposit as he paid only N850million and requested access to the plots without completing the payment.

It also stipulated that any refund of deposits would only become due if and when the vendor (Ukachukwu) successfully resells the property to another buyer."

The group contended that most businesses are structured such that if the buyer fails to make complete payment, he would only get a refund when the property has been resold, noting that most businessmen have lost money in such deals, but in the case of Mr Akpa, he was promised his money once the property was sold.

It decried lack of due process in seeking a refund by Akpa, who, according to him, instead of approaching an authority, resorted to self help.

Ikeagwuonwu insisted that the APC candidate is a man of impeccable integrity, who has built his name over the years and known as a philanthropist, businessman and employer of labour.