The management of Onitsha Sports Club in Anambra State has accused some individuals involved in a longstanding dispute over the ownership of its premises of using what it described as a “kangaroo judgement” to forcefully eject members from the facility, alleging that thugs accompanied by police officers invaded the club, looted property worth over ₦500 million and injured several people.
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The club alleged that the invasion occurred on Monday evening and continued until midnight, with the attackers carting away television sets, solar lights and other valuables, destroying vehicles and assaulting members.
Speaking during a press briefing at the club’s premises on Tuesday, the Secretary, Toochukwu Chidobelu, who was accompanied by the club’s President, Titus Adirika, and other executive committee members, appealed to the Federal Government, Anambra State Government and security agencies to intervene.
Chidobelu alleged that the invasion was orchestrated by individuals who had been attempting for years to take possession of the club’s property through a disputed court judgement, which he dismissed as a “kangaroo judgement.”
He maintained that litigation concerning the ownership of the premises was still pending before a court and questioned the legal basis for the alleged attempt to eject the club.
According to him, members were going about their normal activities when the attackers allegedly entered the premises in the company of police officers.
“Our members were outside the club. We did not know what was happening inside until this morning when we entered and noticed that hoodlums led by some police officers invaded our complex and carted away a lot of items,” he said.
Giving an account of the alleged destruction and theft, Chidobelu estimated the value of the missing property at more than ₦500 million.
“If we start evaluating the cost, it is over N500 million. Items carted away included television sets, solar lights, in fact, everything inside the club was completely looted,” he stated.
The club secretary expressed concern that a recreational institution with longstanding historical importance to Onitsha was being subjected to what he described as unlawful attempts to dispossess its members.
“We appeal to the police, law enforcement agencies, and both state and federal governments to come to our rescue, the Onitsha Sports Club is a historic recreational centre where men of timber and calibre come to relax,” he said.
Pointing to an image of Nigeria’s first President, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe, erected within the club premises, Chidobelu emphasised the institution’s historical significance, maintaining that it existed long before the individuals currently laying claim to its property.
He insisted that the ownership dispute remained unresolved and should be determined through lawful judicial processes rather than force.
“This case is already in court and still ongoing, but what we witnessed this morning was a mere expression of hooliganism. It is unfortunate that one of the persons doing this, is a lawyer who is supposed to understand what the law says,” he said.
“The incident happened by 5pm yesterday and lasted till midnight.”
Chidobelu further alleged that police officers who accompanied the individuals claimed to be personnel of the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) from Abuja.
According to him, the officers insisted that they were acting pursuant to a court order authorising the eviction of the club’s occupants but failed to produce any document establishing such authority.
“They said they came with a court order to vacate us from the club premises, but up till now, they have not shown us any order,” he stated.
He questioned how the police could participate in an eviction exercise without presenting the court order allegedly authorising their actions, particularly when litigation concerning the property was still ongoing.
The club secretary also challenged the individuals claiming ownership of the premises to provide documentary evidence supporting their claims.
“Anybody can allege ownership of your home, but the person must provide proof of ownership,” he said.
“These individuals laying claims have not been able to provide any proof that they own the club or anything inside it.”
Chidobelu disclosed that the Area Command in Onitsha and the Central Police Station were alerted during the incident but alleged that no effective intervention was made to stop the invasion.
He claimed that the police authorities maintained that there was a court order authorising the exercise, although no copy was presented to the club’s management.
The secretary further alleged that several people sustained injuries after being beaten or exposed to tear gas allegedly fired by police officers during the operation.
According to him, some of the injured persons were hospitalised, while several vehicles parked within the premises were damaged.
The club maintained that the incident went beyond a dispute over property ownership, raising concerns about the alleged involvement of law enforcement officers in an operation whose legal authority had not been demonstrated to the affected occupants.
The management called on the relevant authorities to investigate the alleged invasion, identify those responsible for the destruction and disappearance of property, and ensure that the ongoing legal dispute is resolved through the courts.
When contacted for a reaction, the Police Public Relations Officer of the Anambra State Police Command, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said he was unaware of the incident.
Efforts to obtain comments from the individuals accused of orchestrating the invasion were unsuccessful.
As of the time of reporting, no copy of the court judgement or eviction order allegedly relied upon by the police officers had been made available for independent examination.
The identity of the court that delivered the disputed judgement, the date of the decision and the precise orders made were also not established in the account provided.
Consequently, the club’s description of the judgement as a “kangaroo judgement” remains its characterisation of the disputed judicial process and does not establish that any court decision was invalid or unlawfully obtained.
The allegations of looting, assault, property destruction and police involvement have also not been independently established.
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