An octogenarian, Mrs Anastasia Agbalaka of Ajanze village, Nimo in Njikoka Local Government Area of Anambra, has cried out to the Anambra State government and the state Commissioner of Police to come to her aid by stopping the alleged forceful takeover of her property by her neighbour.
Agbalaka, who lost her husband in the 1970s, in a petition through her lawyer, Mr Ralph Okonkwo, said a block of shops was being erected by her neighbour, one Chief Gabriel Obiefuna, in front of the compound she had lived peacefully for over six decades.
In her petition titled “Petition Against Illegal and Unapproved Building Structure Along Etiti Nimo/Abacha Feeder Road Within the Awka Capital Territory,” she and her children, Maxwell and Innocent Agbalaka, claimed that the attempt to forcefully takeover their property started when she travelled abroad.
She alleged that because nobody was around, Obiefuna forcefully entered her property and began to encroach on it.
Her lawyer, Mr. Okonkwo, said the structure which was standing vertically under an electric pole had been identified as illegal and marked for demolition by the Anambra Physical Planning Authority.
“In spite of the demolition notice on the structure, the man as we speak cleaned up the inscription and continued to develop the illegal structure.
“Our worry is not only the encroachment, illegal and unapproved building, but the speed of light with which the structure in front of an already existing six stores is being erected.
“This structure did not meet the required set back of 10 feet in the construction of buildings close to feeder roads, for further developments by the government and high tension lines.
“Our clients and other members of their family take these threats of forceful takeover of property very seriously considering the viciousness of the annexure so far and also having due regard to the fact that as law-abiding citizens, it will be of good standing to be on the side of the law,” she said.
When contacted, Mr Onyeka Emmanuel, Executive Secretary, Anambra State Physical Planning Board, Njikoka Local Council Office said the position of government was clear as seen from the marking on the structure.
He said his office had communicated the illegality of the structure to the Head office in Awka and was waiting for the timeline to elapse for them to enforce it by demolishing the building.
But in a swift reaction, Chief Gabriel Obiefuna, the alleged trespasser, said he was not taking over anybody’s land.
He claimed that his family gave the Agbalaka family the land where they built their house and as such they encroached into his land when they were building the fence.
Obiefuna said his family used to farm on the portion of land where he is building the shops.
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