By Ifeizu Joe
Some concerned members of Ire village in Enugwu-Ukwu Community in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra State have dragged it former leaders to court, over alleged illegal sale of community land.
The concerned members of the village who spoke to THE RAZOR said the former leaders of the village led by one Albert Okafor divided parcels of their land among themselves, sold them out and pocketed the funds, without the consent of members of the community.
One of them, Mr Ikechukwu Nwogodor who spoke said: “We decided to come to court because our past leadership shared our communal land among themselves and sold them off and pocketed the money. They sold land worth over N200million and insisted that no one will speak.
“We came together as concerned members of Ire village to sue them. That is why we are in court today. Our prayer is that the entire land be revoked and let the ownership revert to village so that when we want to share the land, we share it equally. I’m a past secretary of Ire village, but I didn’t get any, and I am not asking for any, but let the land be revoked and let the village take ownership of the land again as it used to be, and when it is time, we share it equitably among village members, not few individuals.”
The matter came up before Justice GC Anulude on Wednesday for hearing notice for pre-trial conference in a suit dated; NN/19/2025, instituted at Anambra State High Court, Anaocha Judicial Division Holden in Neni.
Court documents obtained by Our correspondent showed that the plaintiffs, Daniel Obiora, Chuka Obiora, Chinedu Obiora, Tee Okonkwo, Nathaniel Okafor and Augustine Okoye who were acting on behalf of the larger Ire village claimed that the defendants; Albert Okafor, Gilbert Echezona, Daniel Mbonu, Sunday Okonkwo, Godwin Onyema, sold land belonging to the entire village.
Barr. CF Nzegwu-Abana who represented the plaintiffs told the court that the matter was listed for report of service and she reported that the defendants have all been served.
It was however noted that only one defendant, Gilbert Echezona was represented by a lawyer at the sitting, while others failed to show up or send legal representatives.
Justice Anulude who heard the matter urged the parties to choose a convenient date for the commencement of pretrial conference. Both counsels later agreed and the court adjourned the matter to 10 March 2027.
