Elder statesman and former governor of old Anambra State, Jim Nwobodo, has distanced his wife, Pat, from allegations linking her to the demolition of an illegal property under construction by Pastor Basil Ogbuanu in his private estate in Enugu.
Ogbuanu had earlier accused Mrs. Nwobodo of orchestrating the demolition of an unapproved building inside Patson Estate at Independence Layout, Enugu, last week.
However, in a detailed statement issued on Monday, Nwobodo strongly condemned what he described as the criminal conduct and illegal activities of Basil Ogbuanu, whom he referred to as “a self-proclaimed pastor.” He accused Ogbuanu of endangering other property owners in the estate he allegedly took unlawful control of.
Nwobodo explained that he originally acquired a large parcel of land in Enugu in 1976 under the company name Linkana Hotels, with plans to build a hotel. He said those plans were abandoned after he became governor of the old Anambra State, as he chose to focus entirely on governance.
According to him, during his time in office, individuals entrusted with managing the property allegedly sold off large portions of the land, leaving him with only a small fraction of what he initially owned.
After retiring to his hometown of Awkunanwu in Enugu State, Nwobodo said he made efforts to recover the remaining parts of the property, including the Linkana Hotel land. However, he claimed his attempts were resisted by Ogbuanu and his cousin, Barrister Amaka Igwe, who allegedly tried to fraudulently carve out parts of the land.
He further alleged that although he declined to hand control of the estate to Igwe, she later bought a plot within the property but tried to avoid a refund when the transaction was eventually invalidated.
The situation reportedly escalated when Ogbuanu allegedly pressured him to allocate additional plots of land despite being informed that the titles were still undergoing certification due to changes in government land use regulations.
Nwobodo stated that he remained committed to following the legal process for the certification of the land and even offered to refund Ogbuanu if he was unwilling to wait for the documentation to be completed. Instead, he alleged that Ogbuanu proceeded with illegal construction activities within the estate.
The dispute took a dramatic turn on January 16, 2026, when Nwobodo’s wife, accompanied by professionals including a landscape architect and a police officer, visited the estate.
According to Nwobodo, the team discovered the estate gate locked and security personnel missing. They were allegedly confronted by a group of men who detained them inside the premises and prevented them from leaving.
“My wife and the group were subjected to a tense situation, and the police officer accompanying them was physically assaulted. His uniform was torn and they were threatened with further harm,” Nwobodo said.
He explained that his wife contacted authorities, prompting a police response that led to the estate being surrounded and the detained individuals rescued. Some suspects were also arrested.
Nwobodo alleged that Ogbuanu, who reportedly instructed the men to detain the visitors, attempted to flee Enugu by boarding a flight to Lagos but was apprehended by police at the Akanu Ibiam International Airport.
He was subsequently taken to the Independence Layout Police Station, where he was charged with kidnapping, illegal construction, and other criminal offences.
Police investigations, Nwobodo said, revealed that Ogbuanu had been involved in unauthorized building activities within the estate and had allegedly harboured criminals while ignoring government directives to halt such activities.
Nwobodo said the actions of the pastor had created fear among other property owners in the estate, many of whom were worried about living alongside someone he described as having a criminal disposition.
The former governor strongly rejected allegations linking his wife to any wrongdoing, insisting that she had acted in good faith and had even tried to assist Ogbuanu before his alleged misconduct became evident.
“I’m at a loss as to why Basil Ogbuanu would implicate my wife in this ordeal. She has been nothing but kind and supportive to him, yet he repaid her kindness by endangering her life and falsely accusing her,” Nwobodo said.
Ogbuanu has since been arraigned in court and granted bail while trial continues over multiple charges, including kidnapping and illegal land dealings.
Nwobodo described the pastor’s conduct as “lawless” and “criminal,” stressing that he would continue to pursue justice and protect the rights of legitimate landowners in the estate.
“I am deeply troubled by the motives behind Ogbuanu’s actions. His disregard for the law and manipulation of innocent people for personal gain is unacceptable. I will ensure justice is served,” he added.
