The Panel of Inquiry into the illegal grabbing and sales of community and government lands at Nteje, Oyi Local Government Area has commenced its fact finding mission with a visit to the areas in contention.
The Panel, which has two months to complete its assignment and make recommendations to the state government, was set up by Governor Willie Obiano on June eleventh, 2020.
The terms of reference of the Panel were, among others, to examine allegations of illegal sale of community lands in the town, investigate the activities of youths in the community which are alleged to threaten the peace and stability of the town, and also to look into the roles of people involved in the land crisis.
Specifically, it was alleged that a group, which constituted themselves into an illegal land committee, were selling off the lands and forcefully administering oaths of allegiance and secrecy on people, who they took their lands and engaging in massive intimidation of whoever that questioned them.
The lands in contention visited included parts of encroached government lands at Boys High School Nteje and the proposed site for Oyi Local Government Headquarters Stadium.
At each of the lands visited, the panel observed ongoing building of structures on the lands and mostly without any government approval.
The fact-finding team which was led by the Chairman of the Panel, retired Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi had the Secretary, Mr. Boniface Ezelefelanya in attendance.
The Chairman of the Panel, AVM Chiobi, who said the visit opened their eyes to the real issues on ground, advised the people to always seek formal approval from government before starting any development in any part of Nteje and the state in general.
. Contributing, Igwe Charles Agbala of Uke said the visit will help them harmonize what they saw with the contents of the memos already submitted by interested parties during the public hearings.
The team had earlier visited the Transition Committee Chairman of Oyi Local Government Area, Dr Nnamdi Nwadinogbu at the local government Headquarters at Nteje where he updated the committee on what the local government is doing to nip in the bud, the activities of illegal land grabbers and assured his support to the committee for them to seamlessly carry out their assignment.
Other members of the Panel, who joined the fact-finding mission are the traditional Rulers of Okpuno, Igwe Sunday Okafor, his Akawaihedi counterpart, Igwe Wisdom Onebunene ,
former Secretary to the State Government, Chief Paul Odenigbo, Barrister Ifeanyi Ogujiofor and Mrs. Chinyere Nwabachili Before proceeding on the visit, the Panel had held series of public hearings adopted fifteen memoranda as working documents.
Comments are closed for this post.