Obingwa Mayor Accused Of Attempted Land Grab, Businessman Cries Out To Gov. Otti
Businessman cries out as Obingwa Mayor, Hon. Maxwell Nwadike, is accused of attempting to seize a plot of land at 195 Ikot Ekpene Road, Ehere, despite legal documents proving ownership. Owner appeals to Governor Alex Otti for intervention.
A growing land dispute in Obingwa Local Government Area has sparked outrage after allegations emerged that the Mayor of Obingwa LGA, Hon. Maxwell Nwadike, vowed that “not even Governor Alex Otti” could stop him from forcefully taking over a plot of land owned by a businessman, Mr. Edwin Ezema.
Mr. Ezema, who lawfully purchased two plots of land at 195 Ikot Ekpene Road, Ehere, Obingwa, in 2023, is appealing to the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Otti, to intervene. Documents sighted by our correspondent show the land was originally registered in 1996, with no government interference in ownership since then.
Ezema had demolished an old commercial plaza on the land following advice from the Obingwa Town Planner, who cited structural cracks. Before commencing reconstruction, Ezema reportedly informed Mayor Nwadike and obtained his verbal approval. However, after demolition, the Mayor allegedly backtracked, claiming that while one plot belonged to Ezema, the second plot was “Obingwa Council land” with plans to resell it.
Surveyors have been seen frequenting the property, fueling fears of an imminent resale. Despite Ezema submitting all relevant documents for verification months ago, the Mayor is said to have stalled the process under the pretext of investigation.
When contacted, Hon. Nwadike dismissed the matter as political, alleging the land was sold to Ezema by members of the PDP in 2023. His claim, however, has been proven false as records traced the land’s ownership back to 1996. Furthermore, the then Transition Mayor, Dr. Eric Egwuibe, under whose tenure Ezema purchased the land, never interfered in the ownership process.
A 2007 judgment from the Abia State High Court, Obingwa Judicial Division, also reaffirmed that the land legally belonged to its original owners and had never been acquired by the government.
Observers suggest the rising value of properties in the Ehere axis could be driving attempts to seize and resell the land for personal gain. Ezema insists that his acquisition is legal and has pleaded with Governor Otti to protect his rights against what he described as a forceful takeover attempt.
The situation has heightened tension in Obingwa, with residents watching closely to see whether the Abia State Government will act to resolve the matter fairly.
