— Seeks Arrest Of Alleged Land-Grabbing Syndicate Led By Ejike Nwachukwu
— Appeals To Governor To Restore Land Stolen From Austria-Based Imolite, Ndubuisi
AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, GOVERNOR HOPE UZODIMMA
SAVE AN INNOCENT IMO SON FROM OPPRESSION, INJUSTICE, AND THREATS OF DEATH
By Prof. Clement Iwuagwu, United Kingdom
Your Excellency,
I write to you today not just as an academic but as an Imo son in deep anguish over what I have read and personally investigated about the plight of an innocent brother, Mr. Duru Ndubuisi Umuemeziem, whose fundamental rights have been trampled upon in the most ruthless and lawless manner. His only crime? Daring to invest in our homeland, Owerri, only to return from Austria and find that his legally acquired land—Plot 57 Liberty Layout—has been brazenly stolen by criminals.
Your Excellency, this is not just a case of land theft; it is a battle between justice and impunity, between the weak and the powerful, between those who believe in the rule of law and those who mock it with reckless abandon. As I pen this letter, Ndubuisi has not just lost the investment he brought back to his own homeland, but he is now running for his life, having received direct threats from the criminals who have hijacked his land. It is alleged that unknown gunmen have been deployed to protect the land and possibly eliminate him, ensuring that he never dares to challenge this great injustice.
Sir, what has become of our dear Imo State? How did we descend to this level, where a hardworking man who followed all legal procedures is rewarded with oppression and threats to his life? How can criminals openly boast that they have “bought over the police” and that “nothing can be done to them”? What message does this send to Imolites abroad who dream of returning home to contribute to our state’s development? If Ndubuisi’s case is ignored, who will be the next victim?
Your Excellency, I am aware that you have consistently spoken against land grabbing and insecurity in Imo State. You have repeatedly assured our people that justice will prevail and that investors—both local and diaspora—will be protected. This is your chance to prove that your words are not empty. This is your moment to show that under your leadership, criminals cannot trample on the rights of law-abiding citizens and get away with it.
To fully understand the depth of this injustice, let me outline how Mr. Ndubuisi acquired his land through a completely transparent and legal process. In August 2018, he purchased Plot 57 Liberty Layout from Mr. Okonya Uchenna, a known businessman operating under the name Young Millionaire, based at No. 83 Amaeshi Road, Oguta LGA of Imo State. This transaction was not a secretive, undocumented deal but was backed by an irrevocable Power of Attorney, legally transferring full ownership of the property to him. As required by local customs, he paid a development levy of ₦300,000 to the Umudagu Youths, ensuring that all traditional obligations were settled.
However, when he attempted to begin construction, the Umudagu Town Union and the Umudagu Committee on Mechanic Village obstructed him. They demanded an outrageous sum of ₦7,000,000 before he could proceed. Though this was an unjust demand, Ndubuisi, seeking peace and progress, paid and signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2021. Believing that all issues were now settled, he returned to Austria, confident that his investment was secure.
But when he returned in 2024, he was met with a heart-wrenching reality. His land had been taken over, and a massive three-story building had already been erected on it. Investigations revealed that a notorious land grabber, Chief Ejike Nwachukwu, from Ogwa in Mbaitoli LGA, was behind the illegal takeover, working in collaboration with Onyekachi Ehirim, who presents himself as the President General of Umudagu Town Union. These criminals had fraudulently resold the land and allowed the illegal construction to proceed, showing complete disregard for the law.
If men like Chief Ejike Nwachukwu are allowed to thrive, Imo State will descend into total lawlessness. Land grabbers will become the new landlords, and those who toiled day and night to earn an honest living will become refugees in their own land. Today, it is Ndubuisi; tomorrow, it could be another Imo son returning from America, Canada, or the UK—only to be greeted by criminals who believe they are above the law. What hope will be left for our people when gangsters dictate who owns what, and justice is nothing but a commodity for sale to the highest bidder?
Sir, if this dangerous trend is not halted immediately, Imo State will lose the trust of its people. Our best brains—our doctors, professors, engineers, and entrepreneurs—will abandon their dreams of coming home. They will invest elsewhere, in places where the law still has meaning. Our communities will suffer, our economy will decline, and crime will thrive unchecked. A state where criminals are emboldened while good men live in fear is not a state that can progress.
Your Excellency, I am not asking for favors for Mr. Ndubuisi—I am asking for justice. I am appealing for fairness, for the enforcement of the law, and for the protection of all Imolites from the grip of criminals who believe they own our state. I, therefore, humbly and passionately appeal to you to personally intervene in this matter. I urge you to:
1. Order the immediate recovery of Plot 57 Liberty Layout and return it to its rightful owner, Mr. Ndubuisi Umuemeziem.
2. Direct the swift arrest and prosecution of Chief Ejike Nwachukwu, Onyekachi Ehirim, and all their accomplices in this illegal land grab.
3. Launch an independent investigation into the alleged complicity of some police officers in this matter and ensure that any corrupt officers found guilty are brought to book.
4. Provide urgent security protection for Ndubuisi, who now fears for his life.
Your Excellency, history will remember the choices we make in critical moments like this. Will you allow injustice, lawlessness, and criminality to define Imo State, or will you rise to the occasion and prove that the government still stands for truth and justice?
I trust in your leadership, and I believe you will act swiftly. The world is watching, and the people of Imo—both at home and in the diaspora—are waiting.
Sincerely,
Prof. Clement Iwuagwu
March 19,2025.
