By Karen James
A land dispute in Onitsha has escalated into a public feud, with the Okposieke family accusing the Nigeria Police, Onitsha Sports Club authorities, and prominent figures such as Chief Dan Okafor, the President General of Onitsha Sports Club, and transport mogul Chief G.U.O. Okeke, of orchestrating efforts to seize their ancestral land.
At a press conference held last week, members of the Okposieke family, led by spokesperson Barrister Dr. Harold Ekwerekwu, alleged that the police had conspired with the club and its trustees to intimidate and deprive the family of their property. Flanked by family members, including Chief Valentine Ekwerekwu, Edward Ojekwe Ekwerekwu, and Sir William Ekwerekwu, the spokesman detailed the history of the land in question.
Bar,Dr, Harold Ekwerekwu, and other Ekwerekwu during the Press conference
According to Dr. Ekwerekwu, the property was leased to Onitsha Sports Club by their forefathers, but the lease agreement has since expired. He further claimed that the Federal Government, recognizing the family’s ownership, returned the land to them. Despite this, efforts by the family to engage the club in dialogue allegedly met with resistance, forcing them to pursue legal action, which was eventually dropped after the Federal Government’s intervention.
However, the family alleges that rather than address the matter through legal channels, Onitsha Sports Club, with the backing of Chief G.U.O. Okeke, sought the assistance of law enforcement, specifically officers from MOPOL 31 Asaba, Delta State. The family claims that these officers forcefully entered the property, destroyed fences, and began erecting new structures. They accused two police officers, Corporal Chimaobi and Musa, of spearheading the alleged illegal activities.
Dr. Ekwerekwu called on the Inspector General of Police to investigate and intervene, accusing the implicated officers of tarnishing the image of the Nigeria Police.
When contacted for a response, Chief G.U.O. Okeke denied any involvement in the matter. “I am surprised my name is being mentioned. I was overseas when this occurred. I have no reason to acquire more land, as I already have enough. This is an attempt to tarnish my reputation as a respected businessman,” he said.
Similarly, Chief Dan Okafor of Onitsha Sports Club refuted the allegations, accusing the Okposieke family of instigating violence. “The family has attacked the club multiple times, destroying properties worth millions of naira and assaulting our staff. They’ve also refused to appear in court for cases involving the property,” he stated.
Okafor emphasized that the sports club is composed of law-abiding and honorable individuals and dismissed the family’s claims as baseless.
As tensions rise, the Okposieke family has vowed to resist what they describe as intimidation and forceful acquisition of their ancestral land, insisting that justice must prevail. The dispute underscores the ongoing challenges of land ownership and the use of law enforcement in property conflicts in Nigeria.
Sir GUO Okeke,Chief Dan.Okafor PG Onitsha sports Club
