LAND DISPUTE: Lawyer Drags Boniface Amah, Jude Ogbozor, Others To Enugu Police Command Over Attack, Threat To His Life

An Enugu based lawyer, Obiora Gerald Nweke has petitioned the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 13, over alleged invasion of their house and threat to the life of his family.

This was disclosed in a petition signed by their lawyer, Prof Ilochi A. Okafor, SAN, and obtained by our correspondent, dated 17th May, with the title:

“Case of Unlawful Possession of Firearms, Attempted Murder, Threat to Life and Assault Occasioning Grievous Harm, Breach of Peace, Breaking and Entry and Stealing; all committed by Mr Boniface Amah, Jude Ogbozor, Chukwuma Eze, Paul Abalu, Slyvanus Abalu, Ikechukwu Abalu, Celestine Obiekwe, Ekene Abalu, Ekene Okoye, Eucharia Ugbor and Franca Oyigbo and more than thirty (30) other Youths, Women and Men of Ehe Village, Amofia-Imezi Affa, Udi Local Government Area Enugu State against the persons of Sabina Ekwo (Nee Nweke), Victoria Okeke (Nee Nweke) and Arinze Anthony Nweke,”

Prior to this, Nweke, Esq., had in a representative action filed before the Enugu State High Court with Suit No: E/715/2020, Barr. Obiora Nweke & 2 Ors-vs-Nwordu Abalu & 22 Ors, asked the court to declare the title to a land in contention “Eduabor Land”.

Similarly, he had asked the court, pre by Honourable Court coram Honourable Justice C.A. Ogbuabor on 5th day of July, 2021, to declare the actions of the defendant as trespass and further asked that parties be ordered to maintain status quo ante bellum as at that date and avoid acts likely to cause breach of peace. The court had granted the order.

However, since the court made the said orders in 2021 both parties were at their various positions as the court ordered until 14th February, 2023 when the matter came up and after the proceedings of the court, the case was adjourned to 4/4/2023. Mr. Nweke alleged that after the proceedings of 14th February, 2023 and after being served with the latest court processes the defendants appear not to have response to, he wrote that:
“they started showing signs of violence to the to him and his family by threatening him and his family that if they did not withdraw the suit against them they will attack their house and enter the area of land they are occupying by force and kill Obiora Nweke and his two brothers who are also Plaintiffs in the case”

On Saturday 15th April, 2023 Mr. Boniface Amah who is the Chairman of Ehe Village convened a meeting of members of Ehe including men, women and youths whereby he ordered some members of Ehe to enter the plaintiffs’ land and destroy his farms and carry palm fruits harvested by them and other economic crops of which they did. He further proceeded on Sunday morning of 16th day of April, 2023 alongside, Jude Ogbozor and Chukwuma Eze also Paul Abalu, Slyvanus Abalu, Ikechukwu Abalu, Celestine Obiekwe, Ekene Abalu, Ekene Okoye, Ekemezie Okoye, Eucharia Abalu, Eucharia Ugbor and Franca Oyigbo and other youths, women and men numbering more than thirty (30) all from Ehe armed with fire arms, axes, machetes and invaded Mr. Nweke’s house, beat up Sabina Ekwo and Victoria Okeke like common criminals, tied their hands and dragged them around the village, injured them severely, threatened to kill and nearly killed them.

The leaders of the group Mr. Boniface Amah, Jude Ogbozor and Chukwuma Eze did not stop there, he directed the group to loot the house and take properties from the house. They also destroyed two android phones and took away many other properties which are yet to be ascertained because the group has so far prevented Mr. Nweke and his family entry into their house. The group have reportedly ostracized the complainants and threatened to burn down their house.

He further noted that while the attack was going on, his sister, Mrs Victoria Okeke managed to escape and quickly ran to Ezi-Nze Police Station and reported the case on 16th April, 2023. Obiora Nweke, who is the head of the family shortly called the DPO of the station, Victor Onwuka, on phone and gave him the phone number of Mr. Boniface Amah who led the group and was also invited with some of the suspects to the station. The DPO subsequently refused to take further calls from Obiora Nweke till date; and has not done anything to prevent attacks on the persons of and destruction of Mr. Nweke’s properties.

Several calls including several messages sent by him to the DPO, Mr. Victor Onwuka was never returned; including the calls and messages that his house was about to be burnt down was neither answered nor returned till date. Shockingly, that the suspects barricaded the entrance of the house and the surroundings since Sunday, 16th April, 2023 beating up anybody who is going to the farm or house of Nweke, while chanting “go to court”.

The suspects have also prevented the complainants from accessing their house.

The petitioner, has urged the Assistant Inspector General of Police to quickly intervene in the matter and ensure that the law takes its course.