Police are in my pocket, Anambra man boasts, demolishes church

An Onitsha business man, Chief Ernest Offia, has cried to the Inspector- General of Police, Mr. Kayode Egbatokun, and Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State to restrain the activities of an alleged land speculator, Mr. Chimezie Onwuegbusi.

Offia alleged that Onwuegbusi defied series of court orders to demolish a church situated in his property at Obosi in Idemili North Local Government Area of Anambra State.

Counsel to Chief Offia, Barr Humphrey Udechukwu, told newsmen in Onitsha that inspite of these Court orders, Onwuegbusi said to be a notorious land grabber on Monday, July 3, 2023 moved into the property with his thugs and pulled down the church.

Udechukwu said they invited police during the incident but they could not intervene as he( Onwuegbusi) threatened them not to come near the place.

Onwuegbusi who allegedly said to have boasted that the police and other security operatives in Anambra State were in his pocket, reportedly maintained that there were some police officers in Awka working for him.

The lawyer said apart from pulling down the church, Onwuegbusi destroyed the church’s property, including chairs and other items in the church.
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Udechukwu said when he( Onwuegbusi) used police to chase the tenants and Chief Offia,they went to an Onitsha High Court to file fundamental right suit which led to an order by Justice Ugochukwu Oguchi restraining Onwuegbusi “wether by himself, servants, agents or privies howsoever called from further arresting, threatening to arrest or inviting the applicant or interfering in his rights to life, freedom of movement and right to own immovable property pending the determination of the substantive suit/application” among other orders.

The lawyer added that a member of the Board of Trustees (BoT) of the church, (Holy Rosary Deliverance Ministry) Elder John Ebenyi, also went to Court and obtained another injunction from Awka High Court issued by the Chief Judge of the State Justice O.M. Anyachebelu.

He said in the order Onwuegbusi was restrained “by himself, servants, agents, assistants and delegates from taking further steps in connection with this matter and specifically from further locking up of the church building/ premises or interfering with the church services/activities therein or in any manner howsoever pending the hearing /determination of the application”

Udechukwu said unfortunately, Onwuegbusi observed these injunctions in breach, went ahead to pull down the church and damaged property of the church therein.
He called on the IG of Police to direct the State Commissioner of Police to immediately arrest Onwuegbusi.

The legal practitioner also called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo to direct relevant agencies to curtail the excesses of Onwuegbusi, saying that allowing him to continue to grab people’s land could cause breach of public peace.

He warned of the dire consequences of defying an order of court of competent jurisdiction, saying that if allowed to continue, it could breed anarchy and blood shed.

Efforts by this reporter to get Onwuegbusi on his telephone to react failed as his mobile phone continued ringing engaged during several calls made to him.