The Sole Attorney of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri FUTO host communities, Estate Surveyor, Sam Anokam has called on the Governor of Imo State, Hope Uzodinma to ensure that all unlawfully acquired lands and properties in the state are urgently recovered and returned to their rightful owners.
He expressed disappointment over the unending investigation which he says, aside sending ominous signals to concerned Imolites has further contributed to the abysmal decline of the vibrant property market in the state.
Anokam, a seasoned professional land administrator, who stated this in a post on his social media platform, urged the Hope Uzodinma administration not to bask in the euphoria of the unending investigation, but make the recovery of all stolen lands and their return to their legitimate owners a priority that must e accomplished to serve as a deterrent to others who intend to thread the ignoble path that encouraged and contributed immensely to the massive distortion of the Owerri Master Plan, which, he said, reached it’s peak during the administration of former Governor Rochas Okorocha.
According to Chief Anokam, the orchestrated arrest and re-arrest of the former Commissioner for Lands, Noble Atulegwu and his Ministry of Housing and Urban Development counterpart Lady Love Ineh and their possible arraignment in court is not as important as concluding investigation into the stealing and looting of government and individuals lands. “Besides, it does not provide the solution to the deplorable land administration practice in IMO state. Government should face its job and restore the confidence of the people within and in diaspora on an effective and efficient land administration practice in Imo”.
Recall, that Anokam, a community leader indigene of Umuchima in Ihiagwa Ancient Kingdom, had on several occasions and in several publication drawn the attention of the State government to the several irregularities in land administration in the state long before the recent land grabbing scandal in the state became blew up.
