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….As group throws weight behind project
By Lukman Olabiyi (Lagos) and Okey Sampson (Umuahia)
Nsulu Stakeholders Forum (NSF), has called on Governor Alex Otti of Abia State to obey an order of the state High Court sitting in Okpuala Ngwa, which ordered the state government to stay further action on the planned seizure of over 1350 hectares of land belonging to some Nsulu communities in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state for the proposed Abia Airport project.
The Nsulu communities are Ikputu, Umuikeocha Umuode, Umuezeukwu, Umuogu, Uwaomaikoo Umuosu, Umuata Umuosu, Umule Umuosu, Okpulorukwu Umuosu, Umuogele Umuosu, Umuodeche, Ubaha, Umuala, Umuezenta Nbawsi, Mbubo and Umuomainta Nbawsi.
NSF in a statement by its Convener, Mazi Chigoram, noted that the trial judge, Justice Enyinnaya Okezie, had on December 20, 2024, issued a stay of execution order following the suit by representatives of the communities.
“NSF noted that Governor Otti is not above the law or court order, as any order made by a court of competent jurisdiction must be obeyed. Otti only enjoys immunity and that does not grant him power to go against a clear order of court.
“The acting Director, the Civil Litigation Department in the state, represented the governor and other defendants in the matter. The state and the governor of his agents must not be allowed to go against the court order.
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“The affected Nsulu communities are challenging the desperate attempt to take over their land and have taken the matter to court.
The governor cannot sit at Government House and disobey a court order, the group declared.
Meanwhile, a separate group of people who identified themselves as the land owners of Abia Airport project has appealed to Abia State Government to consider further reduction of the land size for the airport project. The people of Nsulu in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area, where the airport is sited, made the plea during a meeting between Abia State Government officials and leaders of the land donor communities.
The meeting was conveyed to strengthen some grey areas that were noticed following government’s acquisition of the land. In a communiqué signed by Chief of Staff to the Governor, Caleb Ajagba, for the government and Rt. Hon. Uzor Azubike for the Nsulu Airport land owners and read by the leader of the Nsulu Airport land owners Rt. Hon. Uzor Azubike, the government and Nsulu people agreed to work together to agree in any concern that may arise in the future in the course of the execution of the project including but not limited to further reducing the land size.
Both parties further agreed that a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) would be drafted to guide all the parties for the duration of the project as it concerns what the host communities would benefit from the project upon completion while the government assured land owners of the transparency in its undertakings with them as well as promised to pay adequate and full compensation while involving the land owners in the project development process.
The Nsulu people commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving an airstrip for Abia state and lauded Governor Alex Otti for upgrading the airstrip to an airport and for choosing Nsulu for the proposed Abia Airport project and pledged their support and corporation for the actualization of the project.
