A Police Inspector, Mr Augustine Odidka who hails from Mgbidi in Oru West L.G.A of Imo State has cried out to the Imo State government for help over attempt by his father’s kinsmen to take his father’s land and inheritance. According to Austin, Odidika Amajuoyi Irozo, Jude and Azubuike are all descendents of Nwasiri’, who left a huge portion of land for his children.
Austin Odidika who made his feeling known to the press disclosed that the rivalry associated with the land dispute dates back to 1943 when the family was involved in land dispute with the other kindred. At the end of the day, they won the case with the help of other kindred members from, Elu, Ozurumbe and Iheduo all in Mgidi community. According to Augustine, the bone of contention now is not the people they went to court with but rather the major issue is that their kinsmen who helped them to win the case in court are now claiming that Nwansiri’ s land should be shared as a general land. That, they are not comfortable with.
He stated that the four villages of Nwansiri, Elu,Ozurumba and Iheduo have portions of land in the area and wondered why Nwansiri’s land should be singled out for sharing as general land.
Augustine who said that he was a little boy when his father died revealed that there is no day that they are not harassed by security operatives at the instance of their opponents, in a bid to take the land from them.
He disclosed that the other family has resorted to intimidation and harassment, adding that his cousin Amajuoyi Irozo and his brother were arrested sometime four years ago by the federal Special Anti Robbery Squad SARS, Abuja, four days after the burial of their father who was the head of the family.
He also stated that his uncle, a former Majority Leader in the Imo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon John Uchegbulem was the only person who was assisting them to sponsor the matter has died and is yet to be buried, a situation that has created a big vaccum which the other faction is using to intimidate them.
Odidika also alleged that their opponens have sold a generally owned family land at the rate of N11.8 million and another one at the rate of N15 million and have not accounted for it but are rather using the money as a weapon against them.
He further disclosed that all attempts to settle the issue at the palace of the traditional ruler of Mgbidi community hit the rock as the opponents refused to show up knowing very well that they will lose.
Austin disclosed that his two cousins were arrested recently and taken to Zone 9 Umuahia all in a bid to intimidate and take the land from them. He is appealing to the Imo government led by His Excellency Senator Hope Uzodinma and his brother who is a notable Traditional ruler in Oru clan to as a matter of urgency wade into the matter so as to find a lasting solution to the problem. He also alleged that their opponents boasted before the villagers that they will deploy all available resources to ensure that they forcefully take the land away from them. Augustine Odidika hinted that his father Odidika Onyejieguome was never a trouble maker during his life time and wondered why some of his kinsmen have risen against them to take their inheritance.
