The Ugwuaji Awkunanaw Community in Enugu State has taken the state government to court over alleged illegal possession of their ancestral land. The community, represented by five of its members – Chief Monday Igweshi, Chief Simeon Ede, Chief Christopher Ikechukwu Ugwu, Chief Joseph Ngwu, and Chief Kanayo O. Atu – filed the suit at the State High Court, seeking N1 billion in damages.
According to the statement of claims, the plaintiffs alleged that the Enugu State Government, through the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice and the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, invaded their land, destroying economic and food crops, and constituting acts of trespass. The plaintiffs claimed that the government’s actions were unlawful and in contravention of the 1999 Constitution.
The community stated that they are the original owners of the disputed land, which includes Otonozi Land, Ikiti Land, and New Jerusalem City Layout (Awana Land). They maintained that these lands are exclusively owned communally by the entire members of Ugwuaji Awkunanaw Community.
The plaintiffs also alleged that the state government had previously acquired several parcels of land belonging to their community without adhering to relevant laws, using threats and coercion to silence opposition. They listed several instances of alleged land grabbing, including the acquisition of Independence Layout, Phase I and II, and the International Building Material Market, Enugu.
The Ugwuaji Awkunanaw Community is seeking an order of perpetual injunction restraining the defendants from interfering with their land, as well as an order directing the defendants to pay N1 billion in special damages.
