Nkwo Nnewi Triangle : Nnewi Slams N500m Suit Against Anambra State Government

                                    

There is tension in Nnewi over the revocation of the Nkwo Nnewi Triangle, the sacred land of Nnewi, by the Anambra state government allegedly by force.

To this end , the people of Nnewi have slammed a N500m law suit against the Government of Anambra State and her Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice.

In the suit filed at the Nnewi High Court by their lawyer, Anthony O. Mogboh Esq, SAN, an Enugu based legal practitioner, the town is claiming the above sum as “General and aggravated damages for the trepass” among other demands they are asking the court against the State Government. The community, in the suit is represented by the eight trustees of the town union who said that they were suing the Government for themselves and as the Trustees of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi (the town union) on behalf of the people of Nnewi town.
In the case with suit No HN/156/2014, the town is jointly and severally claiming the following:
a.     “A Declaration that the purported revocation of the right of occupancy of the people of Nnewi in respect of all that piece of land known as and situate at Nkwo Nnewi Triangle, Nnewi Roundabout, Nnewi in Nnewi North Local Government Area of Anambra State of Nigeria by the Governor of An

ambra State by Anambra State notice of revocation dated the 25th day of April, 2013 published in the Anambra State Gazette No 6 Vol. 23 of 27th June, 2013 is invalid, null and void and of no effect as:
1.    “The purported revocation is not for overriding public interest.
2.    “The development of a shopping mall by private persons is not an overriding public interest.
3.    “No notice of intention to revoke the title to the said land was served on the plaintiffs.
4.    “No legal instrument of revocation of title to the said land was served on the plaintiffs.
5.    “No compensation was paid to the plaintiffs prior to the purported revocation.
6.    “It was and is illegal to revoke the said parcel of land and grant it to other (private) persons.
7.    “The development of a shopping mall on land known to be the cultural, traditional and unifying heart and soul of the Nnewi people is insensitive and an abuse of the powers of the State Government under the land use act.
8.    “The UN-HABITAT Master Plan for Nnewi Commissioned by the Defendants does not provide for the construction of a shopping mall in the Nkwo Nnewi Triangle.
9.    “The Defendants did not as required by law undertake an Environmental Impact Assessment on the suitability of building a shopping mall on the Nkwo Nnewi Triangle.
10.    “The purported revocation was done in bad faith and out of malice.
b.    “An order setting aside the purported Revocation of the rights of  occupancy of the plaintiffs published in the Anambra State of Nigeria official Gazette No 6 Vol. 23 of 27th June, 2013.
c.    “Injunction restraining the defendants, their servants, agents, assigns and / or privies from committing any further acts of trespass on the said land.
d.    “Five Hundred Million Naira general and aggravated damages for trespass”.
The suit is supported by a 19 paragraph statement of claim. Meanwhile our check at the court showed that no judge has been assigned to hear the case, as such no date has been fixed for legal fireworks to start between the parties.