Many investors who committed their funds to purchase hectares of land in the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) Pocket Layout are at risk of losing their investments, as the state government has yet to issue the necessary certifications or grant them access to the land.
Journalist101 reports that the Ebonyi State Executive Council, led by His Excellency Engr. David Umahi, approved the sale of the Pocket Layout through a bidding process overseen by the Ebonyi State Council on Public Procurement, pending approval from the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
Following this, the EBSU Pocket Layout was approved and gazetted into law under the supervision of His Excellency, Rt Hon. Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru, as Speaker of the House Assembly, which produced Ebonyi State Law 007 of 2021, sections 19, pages 48 and 49.
However, more than two years after the sale and payment for the land by the successful allotees, the state government has failed to issue certificates of occupancy or physically hand over the aforementioned lands to their rightful owners.
In response to this concerning situation, the allotees have written a letter to the state Governor, asserting that they legitimately acquired the land after receiving a memo from the Ebonyi State Council on Procurement titled “Lease of EBSU Pocket Layout, Ishieke,” detailing the approved sum and size of land alongside the designated bank (Unity Bank) and the relevant account number (0054924860).
The letter, signed by Ifechukwu Cletus Orich and Ifeoma Okeh, the chairman and secretary respectively, further stated, “A Certificate of Purchase was issued by the Ebonyi State Council on Public Procurement (SCPP), signed by Hon. Bar Cletus N. Ofoke (Chairman of the State Council on Public Procurement).
“Allocation papers were subsequently issued to us by the Land Use Allocation Committee of the Ebonyi State Ministry of Lands, signed by Chief Cletus N. Ofoke.”
They added that “All requirements for a Certificate of Occupancy were met and submitted by most allotees to the Ministry of Lands and Survey, which issued the Allocation Papers, and that the Ebonyi State University, through the Vice-Chancellor, issued a Deed of Surrender for the approved portion of land to facilitate the issuance of the Certificate of Occupancy.”
The letter also highlighted that “The Survey Department of the Ministry of Lands and Survey has refused to issue government-approved beacon numbers for the lands, claiming inadequate authorisation from higher authorities. Furthermore, allocation papers of some late allotees have been withheld by the staff of the Ministry of Lands and Survey, citing orders from above.”
Moving forward, they are urging the Governor to, among other requests, “Direct the Honourable Commissioner for Lands and Survey to immediately issue government-approved beacon numbers for the already parcelled lands to all the allotees in the Ebonyi State University Pocket Layout.
“Direct the Ebonyi State University Authority and the Ministry of Lands and Survey to complete the process of Part-Surrender of the layout, as well as instruct the Honourable Commissioner of Lands and Survey to expedite the issuance of Certificates of Occupancy to the allottees.
“We request His Excellency to consent to and sign the Certificates of Occupancy to be issued to all the allotees in the Ebonyi State University Pocket Layout, and to order all trespassers who have not been allocated land in the Ebonyi State University Pocket Layout to vacate the illegally occupied parcels of land.”