Governor Hope Uzodimma of Imo State receives report on the recovery of land belonging to the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education Owerri from the Chairman of the Committee, Prof. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe (right), at the Government House Owerri… Tuesday.
.Recommends recovery within six months
. Uche Nwosu, Anwuka to lose houses
‘AIFCE should take full possession of the vacated land and property immediately upon recovery while the Commissioner for Lands and OCDA should recover the land within six months’
By Valentine Amanze
Imo State former governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha, and his cronnies have been indicted in the forceful aquisition of land belonging to Alvan Ikeoku Federal Collage of Education (AIFCE) in Owerri during his tenure as governor.
The state’s Land Recovery Committee, which submitted its report to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Tuesday, also
recommended the recovery of the Shell Camp land from Okorocha and his associates within six months and hand the same over to AIFCE.
The report, signed by the Chairman, Prof Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, and the Secretary, Barr B F Anyanwu, said that Okorocha, as governor, forcefully, with the collaboration of the military and hoodlums, snatched the land from the college after which he allocated or sold same to his associates.
Those who benefited from the bazaar had been asked to vacate the land. They include two of Okorocha’s inlaws, Dr Uzoma Anwuka and Hon Kingsley Uju.
Also read: No ‘unknown gunmen’ attack at Imo Secretariat – govt
Aside Okorocha’s inlaws, a former Speaker of the state assembly, Chief Acho Ihim; Chief Charles Orie, Prince Charles Amadi and Chief Ugochukwu Hillary also benefited from the illegal acquisition.
The committee also indicted Okorocha for ordering the demolition of 101 buildings belonging to staff of the College and thereafter confiscated their property.
It therefore urged the Imo State Executive Council “to direct the recovery of all the lands belonging to AIFCE, which are now illegally in the hands of individuals and institutions.”
It further asked the state government to ensure the recovery of the land within six months and thereafter issue a certificate of occupancy to the college.
“AIFCE should take full possession of the vacated land and property immediately upon recovery while the Commissioner for Lands and OCDA should recover the land within six months,” the committee recommended.
It further recommended that AIFCE pays the agreed compensation to Orji indigenes, who are the original owners of the land while the Army must vacate the shanties they erected in the land and finally move to Obinze.
Responding, Governor Uzodimma thanked the committee for doing a thorough job and promised that the state government would take all necessary steps in accord with due process to implement the committee’s recommendations.
