The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has petitioned President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Assembly over Enugu state Commissioner of Housing, Mr Vitus Okechi, alleged abuse of power, vandalism of private property and criminal trespass.
HURIWA in a press statement, Friday in Abuja, said the rights group said the petition was not only to President Muhammadu Buhari and the Senate President Ahmed Lawan, but also to Deputy Senate President; the Speaker, House of Representatives, Femi Gbajabiamila, and his deputy.
The rights group said it would also approach the leader of the minority party in the Senate, Enyinnaya Abaribe, and the Chief Whip of the Senate, Orji Uzor Kalu, to appeal to them to compel the Enugu state Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, to prevail on his commissioner to cease the violation.
According to HURIWA, the alleged activities of the commissioner could spark a civil strife in Enugu state unless President Buhari and the National Assembly intervened immediately.
The group disclosed that it had received a petition from the distressed indigenous peoples of Enugu South Local Government Area Council of Enugu state over the activities of the commissioner.
The rights group said its attention was called through a petition titled: For Your Intervention/Advocacy On Incessant Cases Of Conspiracy, Vandalism Of Private Property, Displacement, Flagrant Abuse Of Power/Office, Recurring Threat To Life, Malicious Damage, Criminal Trespass, Acts Of Intimidation, Oppression, and Acts Capable Of Inciting Communal War By The Honourable Commissioner For Housing, Enugu State, Hon. Vitus Okechi.
“We are a firm of legal practitioners and solicitors acting for and on behalf of the Coalition of Ugwuaji Progressives and for other aggrieved land owners in Ugwuaji Awkunanaw, Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, Nigeria, both of whom shall, in this context be referred to as “our clients”. Upon their express mandate and instructions, we make and forward this letter.
“For the purposes of emphasis Sir, the Coalition of Ugwuaji Progressives is drawn from all the four villages in Ugwuaji Awkunanaw to wit: Umunnugwu, Ndiaga, Isiagu and Umunnajingene and are represented herein by Chizoba Stanley Eneh, Elder Sunday Ani and Okey Omaba. The aggrieved land owners are also herein represented by Anayo Mbaeze, Uwakwe Jeremiah E. and Obichere Franka.
“Based on our clients’ brief, the essence of this letter is to kindly bring to your knowledge the ongoing alleged dastardly acts of Forceful seizure and attempt at compulsory acquisition of lands of the citizens of Ugwuaji Community, vandalism of private property, alleged conspiracy, threat to life being meted out on our clients occasioned allegedly by the Commissioner for Housing, Hon Vitus Okechi, and his alleged syndicate of land grabbers.
“We request that you, in your magnanimity, assist in reaching out to all the security agencies in Nigeria, including but not limited to; the Office of the Inspector General of Police, the Department of State Services (DSS), the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Public Complaints Commission, the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC), as well as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), amongst others,” the petition read in part.
HURIWA stated that: “Our clients have successfully resisted the urge to resort to self-help but no one is sure of the extent that other victims of this dastardly act would be ready to go to, to seek redress.
“Before there is a total breakdown of law and order and before a full-blown communal war emanates in Ugwuaji, our clients humbly pray you to use your good offices to advocate on our clients’ behalf.”
