Tension in Abuja as Rochas Okorocha Accused of Land Grabbing and Illegal Demolition
ABUJA/Nigeria: Chaos erupted on Monday, October 14, when armed men dressed in police uniforms stormed an estate in Lugbe, Abuja, allegedly on the orders of former Imo State Governor, Senator Rochas Okorocha.
The men, reportedly conveyed by a bus linked to the senator, descended on a disputed property owned by Bonatech Electricals Limited, sparking panic as they fired tear gas and shot sporadically into the air, creating a scene of terror for residents and workers at the construction site.
The property, situated on Airport Road, is at the heart of a legal battle between Bonatech Electricals Limited and ETHA Ventures, a company owned by Okorocha’s son, Amen Rochas Okorocha. The case, filed at the Federal High Court under suit number FCT/HC/CV/6489/2023, has yet to reach a final verdict, but tensions have risen dramatically as both parties await judgment.
Protesters at the scene expressed outrage over what they described as a “wicked and illegal demolition” carried out in an attempt to seize the land by force. They accused Okorocha and his son of resorting to unlawful tactics, claiming they had tried to manipulate staff of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to legitimise forged documents in their bid to take over the land.
One protester remarked, “Seeing the clear evidence presented by Bonatech Electrical Limited in court, it appears that Okorocha’s son may lose the case. As a result, they have been using their wealth and influence to do everything in their power to claim the property by illegal means.”
While the legal battle is still ongoing, Bonatech Electrical Limited has made a public appeal to the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nyesom Wike, the FCDA, and other authorities, urging them to intervene and put a stop to what they called Okorocha’s “unscrupulous land grabbing methods.” The company insists that the senator and his family should abide by the law and wait for the court’s decision rather than resorting to unlawful actions.
As of the time of publication, Senator Okorocha could not be reached for comment.
