A former Governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha, has been accused of using brute force to grab the land belonging to the Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE).
A panel set up by Imo State Government for the recovery of AIFCE land has recommended the recovery of the Shell Camp land from Okorocha and his associates within six months and hand the same over to AIFCE.
Those who benefited from the bazaar, and have been similarly asked to vacate the land include two of Okorocha’s in-laws namely Dr. Uzoma Anwuka and Hon. Kingsley Uju.
Besides Okorocha’s in-laws, a former Speaker, Chief Acho Ihim, Chief Charles Orie, Prince Charles Amadi, Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Uche Nwosu and Chief Ugochukwu Hillary also benefited from the illegal acquisition.
The committee submitted it s finding to Governor Hope Uzodimma on Tuesday, August 15.
The report signed by the Chairman, Prof. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe and the Secretary, Barr B F Anyanwu, regretted that Okorocha, as governor, used brute force including the military and hoodlums to snatch the land from the College after which he allocated or sold the same to his top associates.
The committee regretted that Okorocha ordered the demolition of 101 buildings belonging to staff of the College and thereafter confiscated their property.
It, therefore, urged the Imo State Executive Council “to direct the recovery of all the lands belonging to AIFCE, which are now illegally in the hands of individuals and institutions.”
It further asked the government to ensure the recovery of the land within six months and thereafter issue a certificate of occupancy to the college.
“AIFCE should take full possession of the vacated land and property immediately upon recovery while the Commissioner for Lands and OCDA should recover the land within six months,” the committee recommended.
It further recommended that AIFCE should pay the agreed compensation to Orji indigenes who are the original owners of the land while the Army should vacate the shanties they erected in the land and finally move to Obinze.
Responding, Governor Uzodimma thanked the committee for doing a thorough job, promising that the government would take necessary steps to implement the committee’s recommendations.