The Human Right Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has called on the Enugu state government to obey the law in respect of the land dispute between the government and the native claimants.
HURIWA made this call at a press conference in Abuja on Monday.
Speaking to Signature TV Enugu’s State Government says they are not in possession of any court order.
The National Coordinator of HURIWA, Emmanuel Onwubiko, lamented the negligence of land use Act by Enugu state government in handling a land dispute between the state government and the natives of Ugwuaji community of the state who claim of ownership of the land.
According to Owubiko, the constitution mandates the state government to adequately compensate the owners of the land if the land was to be taken by the government.
He called on the government to allow a competent court of jurisdiction adjudicate for fairness to prevail.
He said a panel was inaugurated by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Simon Ortuanya, on September 3, 2020, to find a lasting solution to the dispute
According to Onwubiko, Ifeanyi Ugwuany led government has refused to publish the recommendation of the panel and went ahead to build on the land
He urged the state government to release a white paper of the recommendation of the committee bringing fairness and justice to that effect.
The Human Right Writers Association was of the opinion that the government should not undermine the rule of law in handling the land dispute.
The conference was therefore organized to draw the attention of Enugu state government to the dictates of the constitution as well as observing same in dealing with the citizens who voted it into power.
However in a phone interview with Signature TV, the Enugu State Commissioner for Information Hon Chidi Aroh said their was no court order served on the State Government.
He said the Government was reviewing the recommendations of the panel set up to resolve the matter to enable it issue a white paper
He said the Government was interested in resolving the dispute amicably and that the Governor had paid a fact finding visit to the affected community.