Enugu govt demolishes man’s property for destroying airport fence

 

The Enugu State Government, on Friday, demolished a twin duplex belonging to one Mr Jonathan Emejulu, two days after he destroyed an uncompleted perimeter fence of the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.

Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi was reported Thursday to have vowed to demolish Emejulu’s house for allegedly daring the state government by demolishing the airport fence, while executing the judgment of the Enugu State High Court.

In executing the governor’s order, the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, at about 10am on Friday, stormed Emejulu’s houses located at Eziokwe Street, Community Estate, off Nike Lake Resort Road, Trans Ekulu, and demolished his twin duplex.

The Chairman of ECTDA, Mr Josef Onoh, who supervised the demolition, said the building stood on the waterway, blocking the flow of water.

The notice of violation served on the victim by the Department of Building Inspection, ECTDA, also stated that the building violated building standards.

But Emejulu argued that his twin duplex, which he built in 2012, had a duly approved plan and did not stand on the waterway.

He described his property demolition as “a duly planned reprisal” by the state government, due to his move to recover his landed property illegally sold by some government officials.

Emejulu said, prior to August 12, he never received any notice of intent to demolish his property on the grounds that it was built on the waterway.

He expressed dismay over the government singling out his property for demolition on the pretext that it was built on the waterway, while other adjoining properties in the neighbourhood were not touched.

He said, “After the incident of August 12, 2020, when I had gone to Airport Layout Phase IV and V to enforce a court judgment on my plots of land forcefully taken by the government and private individuals, I received a notice from ECTDA.

“They came to my house that evening and wrote ‘remove within 24 hours’ on my fence. This morning (Friday), they came with earthmoving equipment and demolished my house. I lost everything.

“They pasted a notice on my building and claimed that it was the third time they were serving me. Unfortunately for them, the date they wrote with red paint on my wall was August 12, 2020.”

Emejulu said the demolition of his property was a clear indication that the government was chastising him and had a hand in the forceful takeover of his land.

He had gone to Airport Layout Phase IV and V to enforce a court judgment in respect of a hitherto disputed land measuring 400 plots.

In the course of the enforcement, he pulled down some pillars of the perimeter fence of Akanu Ibiam International Airport which was affected by the court judgment.

Emejulu also pulled down the perimeter fence of some private buildings illegally erected on the land while the doors and windows of some private houses were destroyed.