Nkarahia Land Dispute: Imo Lands Commissioner, Onuegbu, Dragged To ICPC Over Alleged Fraud

— As Akpelu Family Accuses Him Of Abuse Of Office, Defiance Of Supreme Court Judgment

A major land ownership scandal has erupted in Imo State as the influential Akpelu Family of Nkaraha Community, Ohaji-Egbema Local Government Area, has formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the Imo State Commissioner for Lands, Survey and Physical Planning, Barrister Enyinna Onuegbu.

In the strongly worded petition dated June 16, 2025, and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, the family accused the Commissioner of gross abuse of office, fraudulent misrepresentation of government policy, illegal appropriation of land, and brazen defiance of a Supreme Court judgment.

At the heart of the petition is a 262-hectare parcel of land located within the Ogburuzo Ogwu Palm Plantation in Nkaraha, which the family claims to own legally, based on a Supreme Court ruling delivered on December 13, 2013, in Suit No: SC/250/2005. The petitioners attached a Certified True Copy of the judgment to affirm their rightful ownership of the land.

According to the Akpelu Family, Barr. Onuegbu has been unlawfully presenting the land as a subject of government acquisition for public use—despite the absence of any formal acquisition procedure.

“There is no Executive Council approval, no State House of Assembly appropriation, no Gazette, no acquisition notice served, and no compensation plan presented. Instead, what we have are two unlawful public notices signed by Onuegbu on March 25 and June 14, 2025, claiming the government is acquiring the land,” the petition stated.

The family alleged that these notices were part of a wider scheme to fraudulently convert the land to private ownership using the veil of government authority.

The petition further revealed that private individuals with political affiliations have already begun receiving portions of the land, even before any official acquisition process was initiated.

“It is a textbook case of criminal expropriation,” the petition read, accusing Onuegbu of personally conducting secret site inspections with real estate speculators prior to the release of the public notices.

“These acts are in direct violation of Sections 19, 22, and 25 of the ICPC Act, 2000, and amount to public corruption and fraudulent enrichment.”

One of the most striking allegations in the petition is that Barr. Onuegbu’s actions directly contradict and undermine a Supreme Court judgment.

“As a senior lawyer, Onuegbu is fully aware that a judgment of the Supreme Court is final and binding. His defiance of this judgment amounts to contempt of court and a dangerous assault on the rule of law,” the family said.

The petition referenced Section 287(1) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which mandates all authorities and persons to give effect to decisions of the Supreme Court.

Equally troubling is the claim that the Commissioner acted unilaterally, falsely presenting his private intentions as state policy without any legal or institutional backing.

The petitioners stated that when they approached senior government officials to verify the acquisition, many of them denied any knowledge or approval of such a move, thereby distancing the Imo State Government from Onuegbu’s actions.

Citing multiple sections of the ICPC Act and the Constitution, the Akpelu Family called on the anti-corruption agency to:Launch an immediate investigation into Barr. Onuegbu’s activities;

Arrest and prosecute him for abuse of office, corrupt practices, and violation of the Supreme Court judgment; Trace and recover all proceeds from the alleged illegal land sales; Publicly release findings to deter similar abuse by other public officials as well as Collaborate with law enforcement to ensure enforcement of the court judgment.

“This case presents a defining moment for the ICPC to prove that no public official is above the law. Impunity in public office must be punished,” the petition concluded.

The family’s representatives, Chinedu Akpelu and Jonathan Akpelu, signed the petition and included several supporting documents, including the court judgment, survey plans, and the controversial public notices.

As of press time, the ICPC had not issued an official response, and Barr. Enyinna Onuegbu could not be reached for comment.

Observers are closely watching the developments, as this petition may open a broader investigation into land administration practices in Imo State, and test the resolve of anti-corruption agencies in upholding the rule of law and protecting private property rights.