..Gives Watchdog 7 Days To Retract story
Contrary to the false and misleading report by hatchet jobbers in some media platforms, a former member of the Imo State House of Assembly that represented Owerri North State constituency and Ex-Special Adviser to Governor Hope Uzodinma, Hon Dan Ikpeazu has described the report churned out in the November 21 edition of the Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper where it claimed that he is being hunted for selling government land as cheap blackmail that falls flat in the face of truth. Rather, he said, if anybody should be on the run for unlawful transaction and meddlesomeness in the land, it should be Paschal Nwakamma, adding that his (Ikpeazu’s) ownership of property in the said land is legitimate and dates back to 2013 and 2016 through properly executed sales by bonafide owners of the land, duly surveyed and documented. The purchased land according to him also has his multi million naira investment. Hon Ikpeazu maintained that the land remains his lawful property and cannot by any subterfuge or threat of power by anybody taken away from him without his consent. He posited that as a bona-fide purchaser for value, he is entitled to resale if he wants, but said it is not an option for him as he has not sold his lands to anyone presently. Ikpeazu who is known for his principled stand on issues and zero tolerance for all kinds of shady practiced did not see the need to indulge in wasting energy and time to react to the allegations of fraudulent sale of land but said he has to do so in order to expose the necessary facts therein.
Ikpeazu who is the National President of Nzuko “Owere General Assembly”, an umbrella organisation of professionals, academics, high profile socialites and captains of Industry with focus on preserving the properties, integrity, and respect of the corporate interest of Owerri people, advised purveyors of the cheap blackmail to drop their mercenary work as they cannot find fault with him. He observed that the resort to media attack on his person by Nwakamma and his cohorts is aimed at diverting attention instead of addressing the serious acts of criminality and fraud being unleashed on his people through a network of syndicates in land racketeering. He insisted that no amount of blackmail will deter him from pursuing the matter to a logical conclusion through legitimate and lawful means. The seasoned amiable politician and oil mogul who clarified issues in a release issued by his media aide, explained that by virtue of being a stakeholder in the land issue, nobody can discuss the acquisition of his own property without seeking and obtaining his consent, describing the ongoing activities of Nwakamma and his cohorts as cheap effort that time will crush. On the report in the Nigeria Watchdog Newspaper, which claimed that Ikpeazu is being wanted for deceiving people and selling government land to the public with fake documents at #7m per plot, the Agric Engineer warned the newspaper to provide evidence in proof of its report within 7 days or face legal action. Some leaders and stakeholders in the area who commented on the development, exonerated Hon Dan Ikpeazu, who they described as a worthy, illustrious and dependable son with impeccable character and unblemished track from complicity in the land saga.
It would be recalled that a simmering feud emerged between Emeke Agbala land owners and officials of the Imo State government over what the natives described as fraudulent manoeuvre by the latter to use their positions and influence to steal their land through private property developers. The natives had lamented over the forceful demolition of their houses and sundry properties by officials of the Imo State government without giving them any notice. Our investigation revealed that properties with an estimated value of #1.5b were brazenly destroyed by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Land Recovery, Paschal Nwakamma and his group.The community therefore urges the Governor to halt further damage to their hard earned assets and restore their land to them, because they were not acquired through due and legitimate process of acquisition.
