-Court Adjourns Matter to March 3

By Ikenna Orioha

The High Court has adjourned the matter concerning the alleged grabbing of TESAC land by the Catholic Diocese of Orlu to March 3, 2026. Following the adjournment, the original landowners have appealed to the court to ensure that justice prevails by restoring the land to them.

The plaintiffs, who spoke to journalists through Hon. Elijah Nwadike Uzomba and Odogwu Chijioke shortly after the court sitting on Monday, January 27, 2026, at the Federal High Court, Owerri, said it was wrong for the state government to have allegedly allocated the land to the Catholic Diocese of Orlu for the establishment of a private university.

They argued that the land was originally donated to the government strictly for public development purposes, so that the people of Orlu would directly and substantially benefit from the proceeds and opportunities arising from such public investment.

The Orlu indigenes expressed regret that both the government and the church had allegedly taken large portions of their ancestral lands—some forcefully—without tangible benefits accruing to the host communities. They insisted they would not fold their arms and allow the TESAC land to be taken from them.

“We gave the land to the government for development that would benefit all Orlu indigenes, but the government deviated from that purpose and deceptively handed it over to the church for business,” they said. “This is sheer wickedness and injustice.

“This matter calls for urgent review. Before anything else, the land must be returned to its original owners—the Orlu people. We will not take lightly anyone causing us pain or disunity, and we refuse to be divided.”

They further stated that several of their lands had already been converted to commercial use, including hotels, banks, and hospitals, to their disadvantage.

“We do not want the church on the TESAC land. Those engineering this alleged land grabbing under the name of the church should come out openly,” they added.

Clarifying their position, the plaintiffs said the issue was not a personal attack on the Catholic Bishop of Orlu.

“We are not fighting Bishop Ukwoma because he is not from Orlu community. The Bishop has his home in Amucha and environs. Let any proposed project be taken to Amucha in Njaba Local Government Area.”

They also alleged the existence of what they described as a “kangaroo document” purportedly authorizing the transfer of the land, which they said they had earlier sighted.

The plaintiffs therefore urged the state government to reverse its alleged decision and allow the Orlu community reclaim the TESAC land, which they maintained is ancestrally theirs.

“We have confidence in the court to deliver justice,” they concluded.