The Enugu State Government on Friday demolished a twin duplex belonging to one John Emejulu, for allegedly blocking waterway.
The Chairman of Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA, Joseph Onoh, who supervised the demolition said that the building stood on a waterway.
Recall that Mr Emejulu had gone to airport layout phase IV and V to enforce a court judgment in respect of a hitherto disputed land measuring 400 plots.
In the course of the enforcement, he pulled down some pillars of the perimeter fence of Akanu Ibiam International Airport which was affected by the court judgment.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the houses located at Eziokwe Street, Community Estate, off Nike Lake Resort Road, Trans Ekulu was demolished by officials of the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority, ECTDA.
Mr Onoh said that notice of violation served the victim by the Department of Building Inspection, ECTDA also stated that the structure violated building standards.
However, the owner of the property differed from the position of the state government.
Mr Emejulu said that the twin duplex built in 2012 had a duly approved plan and did not stand on the waterway.
He described the demolition of the property as a planned reprisal because of a move to recover his landed property illegally sold by some government officials.
He said that prior to August 12, he never received any notice of intent to demolish his property on the ground that it was built on a waterway.
Mr Emejulu wondered why the government singled out the structures for demolition on the pretext that it was built on a waterway while other adjoining property in the neighborhood were not touched.
“After the August 12 incident, when I went to Airport Layout Phase IV and V to enforce a court judgment on my plots of land forcefully taken by the government and private individuals, I received a notice from ECTDA.
“They came to my house that evening and wrote, ‘remove within 24 hours’ on my fence. This morning they came with earth-moving equipment and demolished the house. I lost everything.
“They pasted a notice on the building and claimed that it is the third time they are serving me. Unfortunately, the date written with red paint on my wall is Aug. 12,” he said.
Mr Emejulu said that the demolition of his property was a clear indication that the government was chastising him and had a hand in the forceful takeover of his land.
NAN reports that he also pulled down the perimeter fence of some private buildings illegally erected on the land while the doors and windows of some private houses were destroyed.
NAN
