There is brewing crisis over the non -issuance of Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) to allotees and investors at the Ebonyi State University (EBSU) new layout “EBSU Pockets Layout” in Abakaliki.
The EBSU Pocket Layout was part of a novel new layout development piloted by the past administration of Chief David Umahi in the state under a programme that sought to create modern Housing estates within the Abakaliki capital territory.
The project was founded on Ebonyi State law 007 of 2021 enacted by the Ebonyi State House of Assembly that was presided over by the current governor of the state, Hon. Ogbonna Nwifuru during his time as the Speaker of the state parliament. Apart from the EBSU Pocket layout, other layouts including the Park Estate and the King David Estate both located around the Ochudo Centenary City area of the Abakaliki which also benefitted from laws passed by the Ebonyi State House of Assembly have since been developed leaving out the Ishieke axis in limbo.
This situation led to the allottees of EBSU Pocket layout to raise the alarm of the none committal attitude of the current government of the state concerning their investment in the EBSU land allocations.
According to the allottees, the Ebonyi State Government has refused to bring closure to the transaction by issuing CofOs to the allottees despite the fact that they had perfected all the official requirements of the government including payment of all dues and statutory requests by the Ebonyi State Government.
In a letter signed by Mr, Ifechukwu Cletus Orich and Ifeoma Okeh on behalf of 11 other affected alootees dated 18 September, 2024, titled, “A Plea for Issuance of Deed of Conveyance /Lease, Certificate of Occupancy to Ebonyi State University Pocket Layout Allotees” and addressed to Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru, some of the allottees expressed frustration and sadness of the uncertainty surrounding the issuance of relevant documents to them to enable them develop the lands.
The allottees in their letter reminded Governor Nwifuru that the law establishing the EBSU Pocket Layout was passed under his leadership as the Speaker of theEbonyi State House of Assembly and therefore, there should not be any encumbrances to his assent to the issuance of CofOs to “genuine”allotees.
The allottees enumerated their harrowing experiences in the hands of government officials in their bid to get their land papers which have not yielded any positive results.
Part of the letter reads:
“We write to humbly seek your intervention through your good office for us to be issued certificate of occupancy for Deed of lease and also of physical hand-over of the above stated land to the allotees.
“His Excellency Sir, prior to our investing on the said property and subsequent issuance of Allocation Papers to the Allotees, we did our verification and due diligence to confirm about the property which include:
“The State Executive Council Under the leadership of His Excellency Engr. David Umahi recommended and approved the sales of the Pocket Layout through a bidding process by Ebonyi State Council on Public Procurement subject to approval of the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
“That the EBSU Pocket Layout was approved and gazetted into law under the supervision of His Excellency, Rt Hon. Bldr. Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru as the Speaker of the House Assembly that produced Ebonyi State law 007 of 2021 section 19 pages 48 and 49.
“Subsequently, the Executive Council in their meeting approved and directed the Ebonyi State Government Council on Public Procurement to Commence sales together with Ebonyi State Ministry of Lands and also Special Assistant to Governor on Lands and Surveys, Mr. Emmanuel Igwe.
“Ebonyi State Council on Public Procurement on February, 2022 advertised in the National Dailies for developers to lease the properties for 99 years stating conditions for the bidding process. (see attached).”
“Successful bidders were invited through SMS and of which the bidding process was transparent, captured on camera on the 16th March, 2022.
“Successful bidders were issued a memo by Ebonyi State Council on Procurement titled “Lease of EBSU Pocket Layout, Ishieke” with the approved sum and size of land together with Ebonyi State designated Bank (Unity Bank) and Account Number (0054924860), see attached.
“A Certificate of Purchase was issued by Ebonyi State Council on Public Procurement (SCPP) signed by Hon. Bar Cletus N. Ofoke (Chairman State Council on Public Procurement).
“Allocation Papers were later issued to us by Land Use Allocation Committee of Ebonyi State Ministry of Land signed by Chief Cletus N. Ofoke (see attached copies).
“ Through the Special Assistant to Governor on Lands and Survey, Emmanuel Igwe, the Survey Department of Ministry of Lands sent their staff to parcellate and share the lands accordingly.
“All requirements for Certificate of Occupancy were all met and submitted by most of the Allotees to Ministry of Lands and Survey who issued the Allocation Papers, for issuance of Certificate of Occupancy.
“ Ebonyi State University through the Vice Chancellor issued a Deed of Surrender of the approved portion of land of Ebonyi State Ministry of Lands and Survey to enable issuance of Certificate of Occupancy.
“The Survey Department of the Ministry of Lands and Survey has refused to issue Government approved beacon numbers for the lands on the guise that they are not authorised properly by higher authorities.
“Allocation Papers of some Allotees who came late for collections were withheld by the Staff Ministry of Lands and Survey citing order from above.
“A delegation of Allotees has gone to the Commissioner for Lands, Surveyor General of the State, Permanent Secretary, State Council on Procurement with promising to get back to us.
The allottees, therefore, urged Governor Ogbonna Nwifuru “Direct the Honorable Commissioner for Lands and Survey to immediately issue government approved beacon numbers in the already parcellated lands to all the alloctees in the Ebonyi State University Pocket Layout. And further “Direct the Ebonyi State University Authority and Ministry of Lands and Survey to conclude the process of Part – Surrender of the layout.
While also directing the state “Commissioner of Lands and Survey to facilitate the modalities of issuance of Certificate of Occupancy to the Allotees,”so that the governor can speedily sign and issue “the Certificate of Occupancy to be issued to all the Allotees in the Ebonyi State University Pocket Layouts.”
