Archbishop Detains Pastor, Brother Over Land Dispute In Nnewi

 
                                          

 Land dispute in Akaboukwu village ,Uruagu Nnewi, Anambra state is tearing apart a Pentecostal church Archbishop in Nnewi, David Emmanuel Okafor-Agu, another Pentecostal pastor, Mr Adolphus  Maduka Uba and his brother, Nwabueze Uba.

There is already multiple police case in the community concerning the construction of the gate to the said land.

          In a petition to the Inspector General of Police through their lawyers, Olisaeloka Osuigwe & Co. in Nnewi, the Ubas alleged that as a result of the land dispute the Archbishop had at various times within the past one year procured policemen from the Criminal Investigation Department (C.I.D), Awka, Police Area Command, Nnewi, Central Police Station, Nnewi and Ichi Police Station in Ekwusigo Local Government Area to harass, intimidate and threaten them over the land dispute.
      

    The Ubas further alleged that on February 11 this year that the clergy, aided by some policemen went to the land in dispute and constructed his (the Archbishop’s) wall fence and installed a gate on the said land. 

The petition said the policemen were poised to arrest the Ubas or their agents who would dare come near the gate installed. The petition said the Ubas did not disrupt the construction of the gate in order not to take laws into their hands.

          “Notwithstanding pending investigation into trumped up allegations of malicious damage, threat to life at the CPS, Nnewi against our clients, the Archbishop Okafor-Agu procured some policemen from the IGP Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Annex, Kam Selem House, Moloney Street, Lagos to arrest and detain our clients on baseless allegations of threat to life, malicious damage and conduct likely to cause the breach of peace.  Our clients have been invited to
the said office,” the petition read in part.
        

  The Ubas prayed the IGP to order the Monitoring Unit, Force Headquarters, Annex, Lagos to hand over the case file to his office for proper investigation and the clergy be stopped from using the police to harass and intimidate them over the land matter.
          The Anambra State Urban Development Board (ASUDB) intervened when it wrote the Archbishop not to install the gate to close access road but it was ignored and the gate erected by the Archbishop.

Ubas and claiming that the gate completely blocked access to their residential house, even ,as the land dispute has lingered for over five years with either side reluctant to go to court.

But, Archbishop Okafor-Agu denied using the police to intimidate the Ubas who he accused were rather the people looking for his trouble.  He explained that
the area in dispute was within his New Covenant Church which had been given the
status of a Close by the Nnewi North Council Area, saying that the Ubas were
trespassers. He alleged that he was attacked and wounded by the Ubas at the
site.
          The Archbishop said he reported the matter to Nnewi CPS and the Area Command which he said did not satisfy him before he reported to the State C.I.D, Awka and then to Force Headquarters, Annex, Lagos.  He said he did so not to
allow a breakdown of law and command.