Nonagenarian Petitions CLO Over Disputed Land

A 95-year old man, Elder Ajogwu Ezihe from Abbi, in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State has petitioned Civil Liberties Organization (CLO), Enugu State chapter, alleging that a priest of the Anglican Church in charge of St. Thomas Anglican Church, Onuiyi Nsukka, Rev. Benjamin Diara and one Jonathan Dugwu from the same Abbi community conspired among themselves and unlawfully converted with forged document a piece of land belonging to him to their own.

The petitioner also alleged that the accused persons maliciously damaged his property including cash crops and economic trees during excavation on the said land without his permission.

According to Elder Ezihe, one Anthony Nwokolo encroached on his land in 2001 and sold the land to Rev. Diara, alleging that in 2005, the same Nwokolo came back to take possession of another piece of land which he disagreed with.

This, he said, made him to go to the customary court in the area to seek redress, adding that the court looked into the matter and in the final submission of evidence from both sides, the president of the court, Mr. Nathaniel Ayogu and other members of the court ruled that the piece of land belongs to him.

He regretted that in 2005, the same year judgment was given, Mr. Jonathan Dugwu, a member of the customary court which ruled that the land belongs to him, brought the sum of eighty thousand naira (N80,000) requesting that part of the land be given to him for his personal use.

His words: “Mr. Dugwu after helping me, conspired with one Rev. Benjamin Daira of Anglican Church, Nsukka, whom he sold my land to without my permission,” the 95 year old man further lamented.

Meanwhile, the CLO had in a letter signed by the Executive Secretary Comrade Zulu Ofoelue, invited Rev. Benjamin Diara and one Jonathan Dugwu, to appear before it to defend themselves over the allegations leveled against them by the petitioner.