...Says: Courts had ruled in their favour .
…Faults Isiala Mbano LG chair’s removal of indigene from park mgt.
The people of Luwe Nneiri Umuduru in Isiala Mbano LGA ,Imo state on Wednesday, staged a peaceful protest over alleged arrest of their youths by the police over the issue of Umuduru motor park.
One of the protesters that converged at the motor park near the Isiala Mbano LGA headquarters, Umuelemai, Duruoha Chima Iwueke who introduced himself as an indigene of Luwe Nneiri , and the assistant secretary of the community, disclosed that the land where the motorpark situates, belongs to Umuduru.
He made reference to a 2003 judgement of the Supreme Court of Nigeria which he said, clearly affirmed their ownership.
Iwueke further disclosed that on Tuesday, some persons alleged to have come from Umuelemai community came to take over the park despite that their community, Umuduru, had since won the matter up to the Supreme Court. He added that they have also taken copies of the court judgement in their favour to the authorities of Isiala Mbano LGA including the council chairman, Evangelist Chika Okoroike.
He said the arrest of some of their indigenes who according to him, came out to protest, followed an alleged false alarm from their neighbouring community.
He disclosed that six of their youths whom he said, were arrested on Wednesday, had not been released as at the time of the interview on Wednesday.
Iwueke said they are peace-loving people but would not watch while anybody tries to take away what belongs to them, and for which he said, the highest court and other levels of court in the country have already decided, declared and confirmed.
He called on the Governor, Sen. Hope Uzodinma to intervene, hinting that they would henceforth, neither tolerate any further intimidation of any of their sons over the said motor park by anybody including neighbouring community.
Also speaking, a woman from the community, Esther Ihem, said they came to protest over the arrest of their youths in respect of the Umuduru motor park which she said, belongs to Luwe Nneiri one of the communities in Umuduru.
She lamented the alleged manner their neighbouring Umuelemai treats women from their community who trade around the park even when the court has made it clear that the land belongs to them.
She said they should be allowed to take charge of the land and motor park that belong to them, and called on the Isiala Mbano LG chairman to call their neighbours to order.
She also called for the release of the detained youths.
The President General of Umuduru Union, Ahamefula Lemchi hinted that the National Union of Road Transport Workers,NURTW got a recent judgement over the the motorpark besides the Isiala Mbano LG headquarters which according to him, prompted the council chairman, Evangelist Okoroike to remove their son, Joel Chikwem who according to him, has been managing the motor park and remitting the Local Government’s share of the revenue to the council.
Lemchi further hinted that the community has already appealed the judgement and filed for a stay of execution order to that effect, but however, wondered why the LG chairman would remove Chikwem from Umuduru, and allegedly brought in somebody he said, comes from Okohia to manage the motor park with alleged majority of Umulewe people.
He disclosed that Umuduru had previously won the issue of ownership of the land hosting the entire Isiala Mbano LGA headquarters at the Supreme Court in 2003, as well as won the issue of the motor park in Owerri High Court
He also hinted that the Isiala Mbano LG had withdrawn from the matter when it was in court, and questioned on what grounds he acted.
He said the council chairman should allow the statusquo to remain until the Appeal Court decides on it.
When contacted, Hon Echereodo Uchechukwu who disclosed that he has served as secretary general of Umuduru Union for nine years, said the. protest was sparked by the decision of the Isiala Mbano Local Government chairman to take over the Umuduru park. He hinted that Umuduru won in the issue of the park in court against Theodore Onyenanu of NURTW, and has been managing the park and remitting the Local Government’s share of the revenue. He said there are receipts to prove as evidence.
Echereodo further highlighted that Umuduru community has gone to Appeal Court to challenge a judgement of the High Court in favour of NURTW including filing for stay of execution in respect of the said judgement.
He added that Isiala Mbano Local Government withdrew form the matter instituted by NURTW, only for the chairman to come up with a letter dissolving the Joel Chikwem-led management of the park. He hinted that Umuduru decided to protest peacefully against the alleged action taken by the Isiala Mbano LG chairman which he also alleged did not follow due process.