The Ugwuaji Awkunanaw Community in Enugu State has taken a stand against what they term “illegal land acquisition” by the Enugu State Government, filing a lawsuit for damages worth N1 billion. The case, filed at the Enugu State High Court on December 10, 2024, comes as the community accuses the state of unlawfully seizing ancestral lands, including Otonozi Land, Ikiti Land, and the New Jerusalem City Layout (also known as Awana Land), without following due legal procedures.
Represented by prominent community leaders—Chief Monday Igweshi, Chief Simeon Ede, Chief Christopher Ikechukwu Ugwu, Chief Joseph Ngwu, and Chief Kanayo O. Atu—the plaintiffs argue that the state government, through the Attorney General and the Enugu State Housing Development Corporation, has trespassed on their ancestral properties, destroying crops and causing financial harm to the community.
“We are the rightful owners of these lands, which have been passed down through generations. It is an injustice for the state government to simply take these lands without any legal right or consultation,” said Chief Monday Igweshi, one of the plaintiffs, while addressing reporters after the filing.
The community’s complaint highlights ongoing tensions with the state government over land ownership. Ugwuaji Awkunanaw, which is located in the Enugu South Local Government Area, is home to several villages, including Umunnugwu, Isiagu, Ndiaga, and Umunnajinngene. These villages have historically held communal ownership over the lands in question.
According to the statement of claims, the government’s action, carried out in July 2024, involved the forcible acquisition of large parcels of land belonging to the community, an act that they argue is illegal under Nigerian law, including the 1999 Constitution. The plaintiffs have sought a court order to prevent any further interference with their land, as well as a substantial monetary compensation for the damage caused.
“The Enugu State Government, through the Housing Development Corporation and the Attorney General, has repeatedly violated our rights. These lands have been unlawfully seized, and we are demanding justice,” said Chief Simeon Ede, another of the plaintiffs.
The community’s legal action is not the first attempt to resist land encroachments. Over the years, Ugwuaji Awkunanaw has faced several attempts by corporate bodies, neighboring communities, and even individuals to encroach on their ancestral lands. However, the community has managed to defend its rights through various court actions and public awareness campaigns, including newspaper advertisements warning the public about the unlawful sale of land.
In their statement of claims, the plaintiffs allege that the government’s actions were not isolated, pointing to past incidents of land appropriation in the region. These include the forced acquisition of lands for the Independence Layout in Enugu, the International Building Material Market, and other government projects, all of which they say were located on ancestral land belonging to Ugwuaji Awkunanaw.
“In the past, the state government has unlawfully taken several pieces of our land, including parts of the Independence Layout and the Republic Layout,” stated Chief Kanayo O. Atu. “Now, they’ve come for more. The community can no longer tolerate this injustice.”
The plaintiffs argue that, despite these repeated violations, the government has not adhered to the legal procedures for acquiring land in Nigeria. The process for land acquisition typically requires consultation with local landowners, fair compensation, and adherence to national and state regulations. They claim that these steps were ignored in the latest acquisition attempt.
In their lawsuit, the plaintiffs are asking the court for several remedies, including an injunction to prevent further interference with the contested lands and a payment of N1 billion in damages. The sum, according to their lawyers, is meant to compensate for the destruction of crops and the long-term financial impact of the land seizures on the community.
“We demand that the government stop this land grab and compensate us for the loss of our property and resources,” said G.O. Nwokeiwu, the lead counsel for the plaintiffs.
The Ugwuaji Awkunanaw community, represented by the plaintiffs, insists that it has the full support of the Ugwuaji Awkunanaw General Assembly, the traditional leadership of the community, in taking this legal action. “We are not only standing for ourselves but for every member of the community who has had their land stolen,” said Chief Joseph Ngwu.
This lawsuit is expected to draw attention to the broader issue of land rights in Enugu State, where disputes over land ownership have been a source of tension for many years. Enugu State, like many parts of Nigeria, has witnessed an increase in land grabbing, often driven by state and private sector interests looking to capitalize on land for development purposes.
The state government has yet to respond publicly to the allegations, but legal experts say the case could set an important precedent for land ownership disputes in the region. If the court rules in favor of the community, it could signal a strong message that land grabbing by government bodies will not be tolerated without due legal process.