News
Enugu Land Tussle: Obeagu Community calls for removal of AIG
Tension has reached boiling point in Obeagu Awkunanaw community in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State, as residents accuse a senior police officer, Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police, Margaret Ochalla, of colluding with land grabbers to dispossess them of their ancestral land.
In a strongly worded petition addressed to the Inspector General of Police and another to the Police Service Commission, the community, through its representatives, called for the immediate removal of AIG Ochalla from her current posting at the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex, Lagos. They also demanded that all investigations relating to the disputed land be transferred to a neutral location outside her control.
According to the petitioners, the crisis is rooted in a controversial land dispute involving a private company, Private Estates International West Africa (PEIWA), whose alter egos are named as Kingsley Eze and Gozie Okoye.
The community described PEIWA as “a group of desperate fellows” that used their connections to illegally seize and commercialize vast expanses of their ancestral land under the guise of developing the Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City.
“The story of the so-called Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City whose alter ego is one Kingsley Eze, and more recently, Gozie Okoye, is a vexed one,” the petition reads. “Our ownership of this land in question is not in doubt, as none of the dramatis personae is from our community, neither did any of their parents nor ancestors ever own any part thereof.”
They alleged that Eze and his associates forged documents purporting a land acquisition by the administration of Chief Jim Ifeanyichukwu Nwobodo—a claim the former governor has publicly denied. The alleged forgery is now the subject of Charge No. FHC/EN/CR/84/2025 – IGP V. Kingsley Eze & 2 ORS at the Federal High Court in Enugu, alongside pending civil suits at the Enugu State High Court.
The community claims AIG Ochalla, who has had a long-standing relationship with the land developers, has been partial and oppressive in her handling of the matter.
“She has pitched her tent with them and has been giving her unalloyed support since when she was a Deputy Commissioner of Police in FCID, Abuja,” they wrote. “Every police officer is an ambassador of the Nigeria Police Force and must act in the best interest of the public rather than in protection of the selfish interest of a few land grabbers.”
Residents say the situation deteriorated dramatically after Ochalla’s recent posting to Lagos. “Since Friday, 16/05/2025, AIG Ochalla unleashed a team of police officers from FCID Annex, Lagos against our people. They are kept in an expensive hotel, fed, and have been accompanying officers of PEIWA on daily basis as they patrol our community,” the letter revealed.
The petitioners claim that several community members have been arbitrarily arrested, detained at Uwani Police Station in Enugu, and charged to court on what they describe as “baseless” grounds. One high-profile incident involved the arrest of Rt. Hon. Paul Okechukwu Ogbe, a Senior Special Assistant to the Enugu State Governor.
“He was detained at Uwani Police Station and was about being flown to Lagos on 22/05/2025 when he collapsed and was rushed to hospital,” the petition noted. “Why take him to Lagos if there is no sinister purpose to keep him away, at a place where it will be difficult to get sureties?”
The community says it fears a coordinated plot to intimidate and silence them using the machinery of state.
“We are also wondering how long AIG Ochalla will be used by these land grabbers against us. Now she is in charge at FCID, Lagos, it is time to release a floodgate of criminal complaints, and members of our community will apparently know no peace henceforth,” the statement said.
They urged the Inspector General of Police to urgently transfer the case to Enugu or any other neutral zone and to order AIG Ochalla to recuse herself from the matter.
“She should be reminded that as a police officer, she has to be impartial in performing her duty, and should not let her personal relationships influence her sense of duty. We beg you to save the Nigeria Police from the dent AIG Margaret Ochalla wants to rub on your flagship and respectable institution.”
In a separate Public Notice, the community also addressed a letter dated 13 May 2025, allegedly issued by Gozie Okoye, now claiming to be Managing Director of PEIWA, warning against unauthorized construction within the disputed estate. The community dismissed it as an illegal and misleading document.
“Although the said letter was not particularly addressed to anyone, its contents are laced with bogus claims, distortion of facts, wishful thinking and threat,” they said.
“We must state clearly and categorically that we are the bonafide owners by inheritance of all that parcels of land called Agbana, Ugwuorie, Onususu, Akparata, Isi Oke, Ofia Ogonogo, Ofia Aru, Ururo, Orji, Ngene Uchoo, Ngene Ogwe, Iduru and Ihu Odeje among others.”
They accused Okoye of abusing his position as a former bank manager to facilitate a N2 billion loan for PEIWA using the disputed land as collateral without due process.
“Is it not an extreme form of corruption that Gozie Okoye, for his selfish interest, applied for a loan for his company and used public deposits to feather his nest?” they queried, promising to call for a probe by law enforcement agencies.
They also cited the 2024 report of the Enugu State House of Assembly Committee on Land Disputes, which sided with their community, as further validation of their claim.
The people of Obeagu Awkunanaw are now calling on the highest authorities in the Nigeria Police Force and Police Service Commission to act swiftly and decisively to prevent further erosion of public confidence in the police and to forestall a potential breakdown of law and order.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the immediate dissolution of the Presidential Implementation Committee (PIC) on the Alienation of Federal Government Properties, ending the operations of a body that has overseen the privatisation, sale and lease of federal assets for more than two decades.
The decision was announced in a statement issued on Thursday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, President Tinubu directed that all matters relating to the committee’s activities will henceforth be handled by the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi.
The PIC was established in 2000 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo to supervise the disposal of Federal Government landed assets under the monetisation policy.
The committee was chaired by the then Minister of Housing and comprised representatives of the Ministries of Transportation, Justice, Health and Agriculture, as well as the Nigeria Police Force. Professor P.T. Ahire served as its pioneer secretary, while members were drawn from both the public and private sectors.
The statement recalled that the Federal Executive Council approved the establishment of a Panel of Inquiry on March 22, 2001, to produce a White Paper guiding the implementation of the committee’s recommendations. The panel worked for 21 months before submitting its report.
Explaining the decision, Onanuga said the Federal Government concluded that the committee had outlived its usefulness, as its activities had extended beyond its original mandate and resulted in multiple litigations across the country.
“After careful consideration, the Government has noted that the activities of the PIC had extended beyond its original mandate, resulting in multiple litigations across the country, and the continued existence of the Committee is no longer justified,” he said.
President Tinubu also directed that, with effect from November 5, 2025, all outstanding matters previously handled by the committee be coordinated by the Attorney-General of the Federation.
In addition, the former Secretary of the committee, B. S. Dutsin-Ma, was directed to immediately cease acting on behalf of the dissolved committee and the Federal Government on related matters.
The Presidency said the move is aimed at streamlining the management of issues relating to the alienation of Federal Government properties under the supervision of the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation.
By Chinedu Sabastine
The Nigeria Premier Football League (NPFL) and Afrinvest have urged Nigerian clubs to embrace digital transformation, saying strong online presence, quality data and commercial partnerships are key to financial sustainability.
Speaking at a seminar for media and marketing officers of NPFL clubs in Enugu, NPFL Chief Operating Officer, Davidson Owunmi, challenged clubs to improve their digital platforms or risk missing sponsorship opportunities.
To underscore the importance of data, Owunmi offered a ₦100,000 reward to any club with a functional website containing comprehensive statistics from the just-concluded season, including player profiles, goals, match records and attendance figures.
He lamented that many clubs either lack functional websites or operate platforms with little useful content, stressing that data and digital engagement have become major revenue drivers in modern football.
“Our Gen Z audience lives online. If clubs are absent from the digital space, they cannot reach young fans, attract sponsors or benefit from e-commerce opportunities,” he said.
According to Owunmi, potential sponsors now demand audience and performance data before committing funds, but many clubs are unable to provide credible figures due to poor data generation.
He urged clubs to reduce dependence on government funding by strengthening their media and marketing departments, citing Rangers International’s ₦200 million sleeve sponsorship deal and other commercial partnerships as examples of what effective branding can achieve.
Owunmi also disclosed that from next season, the NPFL will introduce measurable digital benchmarks for clubs, including website functionality, quality content and social media engagement.
Afrinvest Manager, Emmanuel Eleojo, said the company’s partnership with Rangers International and the NPFL is anchored on its “Finance Meets Football” initiative, which promotes corporate investment in football.
He said Afrinvest’s support for Rangers since 2023 has boosted youth development, led to the establishment of the club’s academy and contributed to two league titles in three seasons, while producing players for the national team.
“When finance meets football, we see growth. We see progress. We see trophies won,” Eleojo said.
One of the lead paper presenters at the seminar, Mr George Isitua-Onukwu, who spoke on ‘Monetising NPFL Clubs Through Marketing, Sponsorship and Brand Investment’, harped on the need for the clubs to adopt a clear and timed approach to branding and marketing.
According to him, NPFL sponsors report hesitation because clubs cannot yet guarantee the consistent visibility and production quality brands ask for.
“Clubs without a structured calendar for renewals, activation briefs, and reporting are, by definition, always reacting,” he further stated.
The seminar brought together media and marketing officers from the 20 NPFL clubs to strengthen capacity in digital marketing, branding, content creation and data management aimed at improving the league’s commercial appeal.
A socio-political organization, Forum of Abia Democrats (FABD), has lauded the sterling leadership qualities of Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa.
Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa is the Nigeria Democratic Congress State House of Assembly candidate for Isiala Ngwa South Constituency of Abia State
Forum of Abia Democrats (FABD), whose membership is drawn from the seventeen (17) local government areas of Abia State in a statement on Thursday, hailed
Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa’s resilience and commitment to nation-building and development.
The statement by the forum was signed by the Chairman, Surveyor Samuel Azubuike and Secretary General, Victor Mbanaso.
While noting that Dr Michael Chiemezuo ‘s invaluable contributions towards deepening democracy in Abia state and Nigeria cannot be overemphasized, Forum of Abia Democrats(FABD) also noted that Dr. Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa has remained unwavering in her pursuit of gender equality in the country.
The pro-democracy forum further noted that Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo’s continued support for human empowerment, community development, and as well passion for good governance.
“Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa has remained committed to public service and also dedicated to the advancement of democratic values in Abia state and larger Nigeria. And this illustrious son of Abia state has continuously demonstrated his desire to contribute to societal building and development, having chaired and coordinated professional bodies effectively and efficiently.
Forum of Abia Democrats (FABD) therefore threw their weights behind Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa’s House of assembly bid, describing his recent emergence as the NDC State House of Assembly standard-bearer for Isiala Ngwa South state Constituency as a beginning of a new chapter of progress and purposeful leadership in Isiala Ngwa South.
The forum expressed confidence in the ability and capacity of Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa in driving even development and uplifting local communities across Isiala Ngwa South Constituency through attractions of government’s provision of critical infrastructural amenities and projects when elected into the Abia State House of Assembly come 2027.
According to the ethnic-nationality body, aside from attracting meaningful socio-economic and infrastructural projects across IIsiala Ngwa South Constituency, we believe Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa equally possessed the wherewithal to pursue and make impactful laws that strengthen all statutory and relevant institutions of democratic governance in Abia State.
“Dr Prince Michael Chiemezuo has remained a defender of justice and advocate for the rights and welfare of average Nigerians.
“The confidence and widespread acceptance he enjoy among the electorates in isiala Ngwa South state constituency will turn into electoral victory for NDC in the coming general election next year,”the forum noted.
Forum of Abia Democrats (FABD) pledged to rally bulk votes for NDC State House of Assembly Candidate, Dr. Prince Michael Chiemezuo Agrippa to ensure his total victory in the upcoming election in 2027 in isiala Ngwa South Constituency by the independent national electoral commission (INEC).
The southeast forum also used the medium to call on all eligible Nigerian citizens to participate in the ongoing nationwide voters registration exercise by INEC, so as to enable them exercise their franchise in next year’s general election in the country.
“Every eligible imo citizens should ensure it register and collect their permanent voters cards (PVC), because, it is the only weapon and power vested on citizens by the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to effect a change in government, and vote in credible people to mount leadership saddle in all levels in the country,”They stated.
The Service stated this in a statement posted on its official X handle on Wednesday.
According to the NIS, the only authorised platform for passport payments by Nigerians, both within the country and in the diaspora, is its official passport portal.
It added that foreigners seeking Nigerian visas should use only its official visa portal for embassy applications or the designated e-visa portal for electronic visa applications.
It said, “The Nigeria Immigration Service wishes to reiterate that the only authorised platforms for passport payments for Nigerians (at home and in diaspora) is https://passport.immigration.gov.ng.
“For foreigners wishing to apply for visa, https://visa.immigration.gov.ng (for visa at the Embassy) and https://evisa.immigration.gov.ng (for e-visa) are the official links.
The NIS urged applicants who require clarification or assistance with passport or visa applications to contact its verified communication channels.
It listed its official X accounts as @nigimmigration and @InquireAtNaija, while its verified Facebook and Instagram handles are @nigimmigration.
The Service also provided WhatsApp numbers 09160878000 and 09117717772 for enquiries and support.
The statement reiterated the Service’s commitment to ensuring secure and transparent passport and visa application processes, urging the public to avoid fraudulent intermediaries.
The US Department of State said the move is aimed at centralising routine visa services in regional hubs to enhance national security, reduce government spending, and ensure greater consistency in visa screening, vetting and adjudication.
In a statement on the US Department of State website on Wednesday, the department said the reorganisation aligns with the President Donald Trump’s administration’s priority of placing America’s interests and security first.
“The Department of State is constantly evaluating its overseas operations in order to advance America’s priorities as efficiently and effectively as possible. This includes a visa process that maintains rigorous standards of security screening and vetting and aligns resources and operational capacity with America’s national interests.
“The Trump administration has no higher priority than the safety and security of Americans, and the State Department will continue to provide Americans with appropriate consular services and assistance at diplomatic posts around the world,” the statement read.
Besides Abuja, the affected diplomatic posts are located in Asmara, Bamako, Banjul, Brazzaville, Bujumbura, Conakry, Cotonou, Durban, Freetown, Gaborone, Harare, Juba, Libreville, Lilongwe, Lusaka, Maputo, Maseru, Mbabane, N’Djamena, Niamey, Nouakchott, Ouagadougou and Windhoek.
It also emphasised that all diplomatic missions will continue to provide consular services and carry out their regular functions on behalf of the United States.
The department further assured travellers that the policy does not invalidate visas that have already been issued.
The United States periodically reviews its global diplomatic operations to reallocate resources and streamline consular services.
Under the new arrangement, applicants in countries affected by the policy are expected to access routine visa services through designated regional processing hubs, while embassies and consulates continue to provide other diplomatic and consular assistance.
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