A post on Vanguard’s official website reads that the Imo State Government-appointed Committee for the Recovery of Alvan Ikoku Federal College of Education (AIFCE) Land indicted former governor Rochas Okorocha Tuesday for employing brute force to deprive the college of its land.
The committee suggested that Okorocha and his allies retrieve the Shell Camp land within six months and transfer it over to AIFCE in its report to Governor Hope Uzodimma.
The report, signed by the Chairman, Prof. Vitalis Orikeze Ajumbe, and the Secretary, B. F. Anyanwu, grieved that Okorocha, as governor, utilized brutal force, including the military and hoodlums, to seize the land from the College, which he then allotted or sold to his top allies.
Two of Okorocha’s in-laws, Dr. Uzoma Anwuka and Kingsley Uju, benefited from the bazaar and have been similarly asked to leave the land.
Apart from Okorocha’s inlaws, the illicit acquisition benefited a former speaker, Chief Acho Ihim, Charles Orie, Prince Charles Amadi, and Ugochukwu Hillary.
The Committee was disappointed that Okorocha ordered the demolition of 101 properties owned by college employees and then took their property.
As a result, it urged the Imo State Executive Council to “direct the recovery of all lands belonging to AIFCE that are now illegally in the hands of individuals and institutions.”
It further requested that the state government assure the recovery of the land within six months and then provide 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 suggested that AIFCE pay the agreed-upon compensation to Orji indigenes, who are the original owners of the land, and that the Army vacate the shanties they had built on the site before moving to Obinze.
Governor Uzodimma responded by thanking the committee for its comprehensive work and promising that the state government would make all necessary efforts to execute the committee’s recommendations in accordance with due procedure.
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