From Aloysius Attah, Onitsha
A real estate developer Chief Chinazor Ezeayom has called on newsmen in Anamabra state to desist from the promotion of fake news which he said was dangerous to the community and against the ethics of the profession
Chief Ezeayom made the call yesterday in Onitsha while addressing newsmen on a report published by some online media companies recently.
In the publication, it was reported that “Chief Ezeayom was a notorious land grabber and was brazenly building a major block of stores on the main road without any approval and authorization from the Anambra state Physical Planning Board or other authorising governmental agencies responsible for approval as it concerns construction of structures”
He noted that it was quite unfortunate and unprofessional that the reporter went ahead to use such unprintable words to describe his personality and as such defamed and debased him in the eyes of the public.
Clearing the air over the spurious publication which was he said was allegedly sponsored by one Mr Ifeanyi Akaeme who he said has been fomenting trouble over the acquistion of a plot of land situated at Otigba Enuovuve Layout Nkwelle-Ezunaka in Oyi Local Government Area in Anamabra state .
Chief Ezeayom said trouble started after he commenced construction of a block of stores on a plot of land which he bought in 2016 from the Akpuwku family who were the bonafide owners of the plot of land .
Surprisingly, Akaeme attempted to stop the construction using thugs but was resisted and he later went on to invite policemen of the Anti cult unit and also officers of Zone 13 on the ground that the plot of land was being used for cult meetings and encroachment of government land .
But after their investigation it was discovered that his claims were false and was advised to steer clear of the plot of land .
Mr Ezeayom said he then continued with the construction only for him to come across a publication captioned “Anambra residents raise alarm over illegal structure,petitions Gov Soludo”
wherein Mr Akaeme used a fictitious name of Mr. John Okafor under the guise of the chairman of Concerned Residence and Landlords ,Otigba Enuovuve layout made all kind of unsubstantiated claims which was not verified by the reporter and publisher of the report.
He noted with disdain that the actions of the reporters and media companies involved in the publication was tantamount to defamation of character.
When contacted, the head of the Akpuwku family, Chief Benjamin Mgbedike confirmed that the family sold the plot of land to Chief Ezeayom who shares a boundary with Akaeme who also had purchased four plots of land from the family but his grouse was that he had plans of buying the plot of land currently owned by Chief Ezeayom and that might suggest why he has embarked on a media trial of Chief Ezeayom who has satisfied all conditions of ownership of the land through outright payment for the land and other levies approved by the relevant authorities.