Enugu: UK Returnee Accuses Military Officer of Encroaching His Land

An Enugu man, who returned from the United Kingdom, UK, Prince Michael Obika, has accused a military officer, Col. Fidelis Udeh of encroaching into his land located at Standard Layout, Airport Road, Enugu by force.

Obika said he had been receiving harassment and intimidation concerning plot five and six, a property transferred to him by his late mother, the Rev. Edna Obika, as his inheritance.

According to Obika, he was born in UK and returned to Nigeria five years ago only to discover that his land had been encroached by Udeh, who claimed to be the owner of the property.

On how the problem started, Obika explained while he was in UK, his late cousin who thought he would never return to Nigeria, sold the land to one Uchenna Ochiagha who re-sold it to Col. Udeh.

“When I came to Nigeria to take ownership of my property, Ochiagha surfaced and filed a suit, which I directed my lawyer to join my name in the suit because I have authentic documents.

“Initially, my cousin was arrested by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC) and we gave Ochiagha options to either add money to what my cousin sold to him because he sold the land below the price to him or leave.

“Later Ochiagha dropped a cheque of N2 million from N21 million we asked him to pay and not only that, the cheque bounced which we returned to EFCC,” Obika said.

He added that he was surprised to see Udeh claiming the ownership of the land when the matter was still pending in court with Ochiagha

“Udeh not only demolish some ongoing construction on the land but mounted a signpost written “Military Zone, Keep Off”.

“I have been arrested four times on this matter. So I’m calling on the good people of Enugu State and Nigeria, to help me judge this matter and come to my rescue, especially as they are claiming that I am not known member of Obika family.

“I have not seen this Udeh but he kept on sending soldiers and Air Force officials to destroy my construction. I was born in UK and I know my rights and he should bring his document let me bring my documents so that this matter can be resolved,” he appealed.

The Counsel to Obika, Mr. Nnamdi Ezemagu, added that Udeh had consistently used military boys to intimidate and harass his clients.

He said the property, in line with his investigations and supported with evidential documents, belong to Obika, which his late mother transferred to him before her demise as a way of bringing him back to Nigeria.

“They have employed the use of EFCC and after examining the matter, EFCC found no merit in their complaint and dismissed them and they also complained to the police who looked at it, and dismissed them.

“They had five suits in court, and when we appear in court, ready to confront them, they vanished to the thin air.

“The latest that led the cat out of the bag is that they deployed the services of Udeh, who now intimidates Obika and his tenants in that property.

Reacting, Udeh described them as land grabbers, saying the land he purchased was genuine.

He denied demolishing any structure in the premise but said that some people encroaching his land, which was reported to Enugu Commissioner of Police, CP Kanayo Uzuegbu and Air Force Base, Enugu.

“When CP scheduled meeting for both parties to meet and address the issue, they refused to show up.

“I don’t know them, they don’t know me and I did not buy land from them,” Udeh said.