Group to drag Ebonyi govt to court for allegedly selling Lagos property

An Ebonyi indigene group, the Association of Ebonyi State Indigenes in Diaspora (AESID) has given the state government up to 48 hours to clarify the allegation of selling a property in Lagos belonging to Ebonyi state. Should the government fail to clear the air on the property, the association threatened to drag the state government to court, according to findings by Daily Times.

Recall that the AESID had earlier issued a press statement alleging purported moves to sell-off Ebonyi’s only landed property in Lagos by some persons.

In a statement signed and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Wednesday by its President world-wide, Ambassador Paschal Oluchukwu,  the AESID condemned a Lagos based association for taking side with the state government over the land located opposite the Ikeja military cantonment.

“Are they also aware that quit notices were actually issued to those doing businesses in the said premises, thus heightening the suspicion that the allegation could be very true?

“To this end therefore, AESID is again issuing a fresh 48 hours ultimatum to the Ebonyi State government to officially react to the purported sale of Ebonyi landed property in Lagos and to furnish the masses with all the devils in the details which it is yet to do since our first release. Else, AESID shall be compelled to consider legal options so long as this matter is concerned.

“On the other hand, attempting to gag, hound, harass, intimidate, oppress or even arrest innocent Ebonyi citizens through the security agencies as we reliably learnt it has reported to DSS against senior citizen and journalist, Abia Onyike will not in any way hinder the bold step by AESID and other well-meaning Ebonyians to hold the Umahi-government accountable which is the key tenet of any democracy the world over.

“We believe in the supremacy of the Nigerian constitution and especially the empowerment of the Nigerian Mass media to at all times hold government at all levels accountable to the governed”, the statement read in part.

AESID called on security agencies, particularly the operatives of the Directorate of State Security (DSS) and its newly-posted Director in the state to act professionally and circumspectly by not allowing itself to be used as willing tools in the hands of the state government.

“We, therefore, reiterate that we stand with Abia Onyike and every other citizen of Ebonyi State who may be going through any form of oppression and intimidation as a result of their cold courage to challenge the forces of evil in the present Umahi-era!”, said the AESID.

READ ALSO: My deputy saved me from an ambush by bandits — Buratai