The Chairman and Chief Executive of MARCON Group, Barrister (Prince) M. O. Nlemigbo, has refuted the allegation that he grabbed land at Nkaraha, Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area (LGA), describing it as calculated propagation of falsehood and a futile attempt to tarnish his image and hard-earned reputation by an ingrate called Chinedu Akpaelu and his fictitious group of misfits that benefitted from his scholarship programme but now masking under the aegis of an unknown and non-existent Ohaji-Egbema Youth Movement, OEYM, to accuse him of what he knows nothing about and has nothing to do with.
In a press statement he personally signed, Chief Nlemigbo disclosed how he acquired the land in question, and how the father of the said Chinedu Akpaelu called Matthew Akpaelu had before now tried to seize the land but died in the process after swearing to an oath administered by selected traditional rulers of Imo State along with four others.
The statement read in full: “My attention has been drawn to a scandalous publication in some local newspapers, which is offensive to morality and my dignity by a non-existent group known as Ohaji-Egbema Youth Movement (OEYM), accusing me of land grabbing in the area”.
“Given my status in the society, I will be sending the wrong signal if I did not respond strongly to the outlandish and false publication by the “rogue group” under the leadership of one unknown Gerald Uka but clearly a front for Chinedu Akpaelu, who is the greedy and ungrateful mastermind.”
“The true position is that the land in question originally belongs to the Federal Government of Nigeria under the National Root Crop Production Company Limited NRCPC – a parastatal in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture.”
“The parastatal originally procured the land, did all the formalities, met all the requirements including payment of compensation to the natives before taking possession.”
“Interestingly, the land in question is of two parts with the major part belonging to Umuapu while the remaining part is in Nkaraha Community but both are contiguous.”
“The company operated there for about 10 years before closing down and thereafter, the land was earmarked for privatization and commercialization, which was meticulously handled by the Technical Committee on Privatization and Commercialization, domiciled in the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
“There was an open bid for the land, which was widely advertised, that was how we got wind of what was happening and joined in bidding.”
“As luck would have it, PADUA Investment Limited a subsidiary of MARCON GROUP won the bid and all formalities took place including handover of all necessary title documents.”
“PADUA Investment Limited went further to appreciate the communities involved by entertaining them and paying more compensation to them.”
“I am glad that the reasonable youths of the area, who know the truth about the land in question, have reached out to me, washed their hands of the matter and reacted.”
“They disclosed to me that it is Chinedu Akpaelu, whose father wanted to grab the land in the past but died in the process that is the brain behind the latest land grab effort but I cannot be intimidated or cowed into submission.”
“The chiefs of the community including the Obiukwu have also called me severally dissociating themselves from Chinedu Akpaelu’s misadventure.”
“The world should know that this is not the first time Chinedu Akpaelu attempted to grab the land but he knows how it ended.”
“The community Chief, Chief S.U. Igwe, the Chief Priest and other well-meaning members of Nkaraha community have equally called me about the scandalous publications affirming that the natives are not involved in the matter.”
“I learnt that they are parading a purported Supreme Court judgment on a land – which I know has nothing to do with my land at Nkaraha and Umuapu, Ohaji-Egbema, LGA.”
“Does Supreme Court judgment affect someone, who is not part of the matter?”
“I was never a party to any land litigation in the Supreme Court or any court, which was strictly between Matthew Akpaelu and Chief Paulinus Chukwu and four others of Umuagwo Community.”
“Therefore, only Chinedu Akpaelu and Co know the land, which they claimed to have received Supreme Court judgment.*
“Let me reiterate that the land acquired by PADUA Investment Limited at Nkaraha and Umuapu, Ohaji-Egbema LGA, way back in 1991 was legally and appropriately acquired, it has never been and will never be in dispute.”
“I also vow to take every necessary legal step to address the false accusations and claims by Chinedu Akpaelu and his OEYM.”
