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From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives committee on Public Petition has waded into the land dispute between the Obeagu and Amechi-Uwani Awkunanaw communities and private developers
in Enugu south local council of the state.
The chairman of the Committee, Mike Etaba , who spoke at an investigative hearing, at the weekend, assured the warring groups, that it would ensure that justice is done in the matter .
The Obeagu and Amechi-Uwani Awkunanaw communities had petitioned the House alleging plots by some highly placed persons to grab their land Enugu Centenary City, in breach of extant laws.
The communities pointed accusing fingers at some police officers, for allegedly providing cover to land grabbers to harass and hound their people.
The communities, on the argies of Concerned kindred families of Amechi Uwani Awkananaw, Chief Chinweuba Nnaji Aga, in their petition to the House, said they have allegedly been subjected in incessant harassment by land grabbers.
The communities, while alleging that there have also been unresolved murder cases in the area, drew the attention of the House to alleged “ persistent invasion of our community and the numerous arrests of our people by the Enugu Police Command.”
Consequently, they urged the lawmakers to compel the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kayode Egbetokun, to direct the Department of Force Intelligence (DFI), and Zone 13 Command, Dunukofia, to charge all cases reported, against land grabbers , and investigations concluded, to court.
“In the case of DFI, our case which investigation had been concluded since 2021, and the casefile reportedly forwarded to the DPP appears to have been buried. It is our request that you demand for update in respect of this casefile and ensure it is resurrected and revisited for the interest of justice.
“You are certainly our only hope, and we wish that this exercise is not going to be a mere window dressing; it will be purposeful, fruitful, focused, forceful, and courageous to use your constitutional powers to reprimand any person, group of persons, official or institution which may be found wanton, that you will take far reaching decisions to end this onslaught against us, and also to see to their enforcement, without fear or favour, spite or ill will.”
