Onitsha Boils Over School Land Belonging To Our Lady's High School, Onitsha; Land Owners From Ogbo Family Wants Their Land Back 60 Years After

Premises of Our Lady's High School, Onitsha is now in contention over who owns the compound. A group of people purported to be the land owners numbering over 100 stormed the school demanding that the lease period of 60 years have elapsed.

 Ogbo family land and located at Woliwo Layout, Onitsha, measuring about 14.69 acres. They have served a notice of their intention to reclaim the land from Anambra State government, as a result of the expiration of a 60-year old lease agreement.

The invaded the school and peacefully asked the school authorities to vacate the premises with immediate effect, to enable them take over their land now that the 60-year old lease agreement has expired since 10 years ago.

Addressing the school authorities with their placards in their hands, the head (Diokpa) of Ogbo family of Umuasele Village, Onitsha, Omodi Obiora Nzekwu, explained that they leased the land to one Mr. Peter Ejikeme Chukwura on August 8, 1944 for an initial term of 30 years, for the purpose of running a school. He informed that the lease was renewed and have since elapsed 10 years ago.

Displaying their placards some of which read in part: "Gov. Peter Obi, release our land to us", "We want our land not our Lady's High School", "ANSG, give us back our land", "Gov. Obi, we wand our land not compensation", among others, Nzekwu further explained that along the line, Chukwura established a school initially known as Africa College which was renamed Chukwura High School and finally had its name changed to Our Lady's High School.

He added that when the initial 30-year lease agreement expired in 1974, the lease agreement was renewed for Chukwura for a second term of another 30 years which expired on July 31, 2004.
                                  

 He insisted that they did not grant the lease to the school, but to Mr. Chukwura in his personal capacity. The family head insisted that it was also the intention of the parties that there shall be no further renewal of the lease after the expiration of the total term of 60 years on July 31, 2004, adding that if there was to be a renewal, it would have been stated in the lease agreement dated August 8, 1944.

In their petition to Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state, signed on their behalf by their legal counsel, F. O. Balonwu Esq, they land owners stated that based on the fact that there shall be no renewal of the lease agreement after the expiration, their reversionary interest has remained untouched and unassailable.

Balonwu maintained that since Chukwura was a school proprietor and government took over his interest, it follows that the government could only acquire whatever interest the proprietor had in the land, which is the term of years which ended in 2004, adding that by operation of their reversionary rights, they are entitled to repossess their land on which Our Lady's High School stands.

Describing the state government as an adverse occupier of their land since 2004, Balonwu advised the government to conveniently relocate the school elsewhere, even if it means outside Onitsha urban, just like in 1986, Rear Admiral Allison Madueke (retd), former Military Administrator of Old Anambra State, relocated the Primary school wing known as African Primary School from the subject site to an eight plots of land at Tagbo Isima Street, Woliwo Layout now known as Woliwo Primary School which was magnanimously provided by them.

An Estate Valuer, I. K. Iwenofu therefore prayed Governor Peter to direct the state commissioner of education to respect their reversionary rights and dismantle, vacate, relocate and handover the school site to them in the interest of justice, equity and fairness. 

Responding, the Vice Principal (Administration)(JSS), Mr. Martin Asoegwu and the Vice Principal (Administration) (SSS), Mrs. Ifeoma Izundu who stood in for the Principal who was not around during the visit, commended the demonstrators for their peaceful method of protest and promised to convey their message to the authorities concerned.

Reacting to the petition however,  the out gone Chief Press Secretary to Governor Peter Obi, Mr. Mike Udah, told newsmen on phone that such a claim concerning lease agreement is a legal matter and a such could be handled by the state Ministry of Justice.

The Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Peter Afuba told newsmen in his office yesterday that he was yet to receive the governor's reaction on the matter, since the petition was written directly to the governor, adding that besides, it is the duty of the state ministry of Education and Ministry of Lands to brief him properly on the position of the land before he could take up the matter.

Efforts to get in touch with the out going Commissioner for Education, Mrs. Uju Okeke and her Lands counterpart, Chief Okoli Akirika, proved abortive as both of them were not in their respective offices as at the time of filing this report.  Efforts to speak to hem on phone equally failed.

The onus now lies now on the brand new Governor of Anambra state , Chief Willie Obiano and his commissioners to tackle the issues raised by the land owners to enable he students and staff of the Our Lady’s High School , Onitsha face their academics squarely. But can Obiano do that? Only time will tell!