Demolition: 11 Enugu Business Owners Take Governor Mbah to Court

Eleven residents and businesses in Enugu State have taken legal action against Governor Peter Mbah, challenging his intent to demolish properties, homes, and businesses leased to them by the Nigerian Railway Corporation, a federal entity.

The lawsuit, marked No/FHC/EN/CS/168/2023, filed at the Federal High Court by Messrs. U. Maduka & 11 Ors V. Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority & 6 Ors, seeks to interpret key sections of the Land Use Act. The plaintiffs aim to prevent the Enugu State Government and its agencies from interfering with their rights over the disputed lands.

The plaintiffs, through their counsel, have posed three crucial questions and are seeking declarations and injunctions against the government’s actions. Among these, they demand a declaration that the government lacks the authority to order the removal of buildings along Market Road and Okpara Avenue in Enugu.

Meanwhile, addressing journalists, Bona Ononugbo, counsel to some plaintiffs, criticized the government’s alleged abuse of power. He highlighted the government’s counteraction, filing a separate suit against the Nigeria Railways Corporation and other occupants. Ononugbo accused the government of failing to disclose crucial facts about the properties, including their federal ownership, and suggested ulterior motives behind the proposed bus terminal project.

The legal battle intensifies as the affected occupants stand firm against what they perceive as a land-grabbing scheme disguised as a public interest project. The unfolding court proceedings reveal a complex dispute over property rights, with both sides vehemently defending their positions.

The situation raises questions about transparency and fairness in the government’s actions, leaving Enugu residents and businesses caught in the crossfire of a contentious legal struggles.