Abuja – Former Imo State Governor and current senator representing Imo West senatorial district at the 9th Nigerian Senate, Owelle Rochas Okorocha, has been accused of land grabbing and the illegal demolition of a property in the Lugbe area of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja. The accusations stem from an incident that occurred on Monday, October 14.
Eyewitnesses reported that the chaos began when a group of armed men dressed in police uniforms arrived at the disputed land, located in an estate in Lugbe. The men, who were transported by a bus allegedly belonging to Senator Okorocha, arrived in a commando-like manner, causing panic among residents and workers at the building construction site.
The policemen were seen firing tear gas and shooting sporadically into the air, creating an atmosphere of fear and chaos. According to witnesses, this was done to enable the men to carry out what has been described as an “illegal and wicked demolition of buildings in the estate,” which some claim was part of an attempt to forcibly take over the land.
The disputed property, located along Airport Road in Lugbe, is owned by Bonatech Electricals Limited. The company had previously taken legal action against Okorocha, filing a lawsuit at the Federal High Court in 2023 to contest the ownership of the property. The case, with suit number FCT/HC/CV/6489/2023, lists ETHA VENTURES, a company owned by Okorocha’s second son, Amen Rochas Okorocha, as a defendant.
Local residents and members of Bonatech Electricals Limited staged a protest at the site, voicing their grievances over what they termed as Okorocha’s illegal attempts to take control of the land. “Having seen the handwriting on the wall that his son may lose the case in court, following all empirical evidence and documents presented by the Plaintiff, Bonatech Electrical Limited, Okorocha and his son have been doing everything illegally possible, including attempts to induce staff of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to help them formalize their forged documents while deploying his vast contacts and money to grab the massive land,” the protesters stated.
They further expressed concern over the ongoing legal proceedings, stressing that both parties are still awaiting a final court judgment. However, they emphasized the importance of adhering to legal processes and respecting the rule of law. “It is imperative that the Okorocha family play by the books and respect the rule of law rather than dancing naked in the marketplace,” said one protester.
During the alleged illegal demolition, it was reported that the police officers misled workers on the site by claiming they were from the FCDA. Bonatech Electricals Limited has called on the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, the management of the FCDA, and other authorities to address the issue. They appealed to “all well-meaning Nigerians to call Okorocha and his family to order, as this illegal way of grabbing land, which he has been used to and known for over the years, is not the way to go. He should follow due process and respect the rule of law.”
As of the time of filing this report, efforts to reach Senator Okorocha for comments were unsuccessful. The case continues to draw public attention, raising concerns about the abuse of power and legal processes in land ownership disputes within the FCT.
