The controversy over the ownership of the disputed portion of land at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport Enugu, took another turn yesterday, Tuesday August 18, when the family of late Igwe D. O. Eneh from Udi laid claim to the land.
Recall that last week, Arch J. J., armed with a court order, demolished some building in that portion of land and part of the perimeter fence of the airport, an action that drew the anger of both the Federal Government and Enugu State Government leading to the demolishing of his house.
But on Tuesday, the family of the late traditional ruler of Udi, Enugu State, Igwe D. O. Eneh, armed with documents, some dated as far back as 1965 to laid claim on the disputed land, saying that their late father acquired the land from Emene and Umuchigbo Nike, Enugu East council and dismissed Emejulu’s ownership claim on the land which they described as “fraud and should be investigated”.
According to two members of the family, Dr. George Eneh and Gary Eneh, flanked by their family lawyer, their late father acquired more than 300 acres of land from both Emene and Umuchigbo, Nike communities, and separately entered into a memorandum of understanding, MOU, in 1958 and 1965, respectively. They quoted a 1974 gazette where it is recorded, saying that Emejulu has no title to prove that the land belongs to him
The Eneh family revealed that they have been negotiating with the relevant authorities over the use of the land as a free trade zone before the ownership claim by Emejulu, who they accused of working with a prominent traditional ruler in Nike, Enugu, to encroach on their family land.
They said that they have written to both the Federal and State governments over the matter and they also told the Governor in the letter that “Mr. Emejulu’s the High Court judgment is fraught with lies and bad faith and will be set aside” and insisted that they remain “the beneficial owners of the land by proper conveyancing commencing with a title registered after acquisition on November 4, 1958, no less than 50 clear years ahead of Emejulu’s purported intrusion into the area.
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