The tranquility of Umuoji Town in Anambra State, Nigeria, has been shattered by a bitter land dispute pitting the Ebonano Community, comprising the villages of Umuobia, Umuechem, Ifite, and Uruedeke, against Pineleaf Estate and Properties Ltd., owned by Chief Bishop Onyeka Nzekwesi. The Ebonano Community has formally petitioned the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, accusing Pineleaf Estate of land grabbing, harassment, destruction of property, and threats to life. This petition, filed through the law chamber of Ifeanyi Enemo, paints a picture of escalating tensions and blatant disregard for legal processes, demanding urgent intervention to prevent further conflict.
At the heart of the dispute lies a parcel of land known as Mpia Land, claimed by the Ebonano Community as their ancestral property. The community alleges that Pineleaf Estate, along with Eddy Motors Ltd, Mr. Obiora Ofoma, and Bank of Credit and Commerce Limited, has repeatedly invaded and vandalized this land, deploying bulldozers and caterpillars, accompanied by armed soldiers. These alleged incursions, occurring on December 15, 2024, and February 18, 2025, prompted the Ebonano Community to report the matter to the Inspector General of Police and the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 13 Ukpo. In a tactical maneuver, Pineleaf Estate and its associates are accused of preemptively filing a petition with Governor Soludo’s office, seemingly to divert attention from the ongoing police investigation. This pattern of lodging complaints with various authorities, including the Chairman of the House Committee on Survey and Town Planning, is depicted by the Ebonano Community as a strategy to harass and intimidate them.
Exasperated by the continued harassment and the looming threat of violence, the Ebonano Community initiated legal proceedings against Pineleaf Estate, Eddy Motors Ltd, Mr. Obiora Ofoma, and Bank of Credit and Commerce Limited at the High Court of Ogidi. The lawsuit, registered as Suit No. HID/201/2025, with Stephen Mbaneme and three others representing the community, seeks legal redress for the alleged land grabbing and associated damages. While the legal proceedings are underway, Pineleaf Estate, listed as the third defendant in the case, has been served with court documents, and preliminary motions are scheduled for hearing on December 2, 2025, before Justice A. Okumah.
Despite the ongoing legal process, the Ebonano Community alleges that Pineleaf Estate has continued its aggressive actions. On September 11, 2025, armed soldiers and police officers, allegedly under the direction of Pineleaf Estate officials, are reported to have invaded Mpia Land again. Using caterpillars, they cleared significant portions of the land, destroyed crops belonging to community members, and erected signboards, effectively asserting their claim to the disputed property. The petition emphasizes that these actions occurred despite the pending court case, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the legal system and the principle of allowing the courts to adjudicate the matter. The actions of Pineleaf Estate are portrayed as a calculated attempt to create a fait accompli, thus undermining the judicial process.
The Ebonano Community’s petition underscores the precarious position of the villagers, whose livelihoods are threatened by the ongoing land dispute and the alleged destruction of their farms. They accuse Pineleaf Estate of operating without legitimate land ownership documents and instead leveraging its association with Eddy Motors Ltd and Mr. Obiora Ofoma to falsely claim ownership of Mpia Land. The petition characterizes Pineleaf Estate’s actions as a flagrant violation of the Nigerian Constitution, which vests the power to resolve disputes in the courts. The Ebonano Community appeals to Governor Soludo to intervene decisively and restrain Pineleaf Estate, preventing further escalation of the conflict and upholding the rule of law.
The petition, signed by Ifeanyi Enemo, counsel for the Ebonano Community, has been widely circulated, including copies sent to high-ranking security officials such as the National Security Adviser, Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS), and the Anambra State Commissioner of Police, highlighting the seriousness of the situation and the potential for wider security implications. Attempts to obtain a response from Pineleaf Estate regarding the allegations have been unsuccessful, as calls and messages to their public relations unit remained unanswered at the time of reporting. The silence from Pineleaf Estate further fuels the anxieties of the Ebonano Community, leaving them in a state of uncertainty and fear about their future and the fate of their ancestral land.
