Tensions remain high in Enugu South Local Government Area as leaders of the Obeagu community have firmly rejected recent assertions made by Private Estates International West Africa (PEIWA) regarding land ownership and development activities within the Enugu Lifestyle and Golf City (ELGC) project.
In a statement signed by key community leaders including HRH Igwe Mike A. Nnukwu (Anyanecheibe III), President General Hon. Mike Ogbonna (Okwadike), Vice President Barr. Sunday N. Ogbodo, Secretary General Chief Reuben Nnamani Okafor, and Litigation Chairman Hon. Chiene I. Chiene, the community dismissed PEIWA’s latest communication, dated May 13, 2025, and signed by Gozie Okoye, as misleading and without merit.
“The letter was not particularly addressed to anyone, which we could have easily dismissed as the last desperate acts of drowning fellows,” the statement read.
“but since its contents are laced with bogus claims, distortion of facts, wishful thinking and threat, intended to mislead members of the public… we must respond in order to put the records straight.”
The disputed lands, according to the community, include territories such as Agbana, Ugwuorie, Onususu, Akparata, and Isi Oke, areas they assert are ancestral lands passed down through generations.
They claim that PEIWA, under the guise of development, has engaged in fraudulent practices.
“It is a story where a group of desperate fellows then led by one Kingsley Eze used the name of PEIWA, connived with some compromised officials of then Enugu State Government under the administration of His Excellency Sullivan Iheanacho Chime and illegally shared out our ancestral lands in the name of New Township Development,” the notice read.
“They parcellated our lands and in a most egregious manner, began to sell. While we groan in pains and sorrow, they selfishly smiled to their banks with proceeds from such sales.”
“There was no benefit conferred on us, neither did commensurate benefit inure to the Enugu State Government.”
The community also cited the outcome of several legal proceedings and police investigations as evidence supporting their claims.
” In addition to ongoing legal battles at the Enugu State High Court, various investigations carried out at the highest levels of police hierarchy unequivocally affirmed our ownership of the lands,” they said.
“Some of the purveyors or promoters of this heist were recommended for trial and appropriate charges have been filed against them at the Federal High Court, but they chose to evade service.”
Attention was also drawn to Gozie Okoye, the signatory of PEIWA’s letter, who the community claims had a significant role in securing a N2 billion loan using the contested lands as collateral.
“Is it not atrocious and extreme form of corruption that Gozie Okoye, for his selfish interest, applied for loan for his company and, in abuse of his office, used the money deposited by the public and domiciled with the bank to feather his nest?” the community asked.
They called for law enforcement authorities to investigate Okoye’s involvement in the transaction, questioning whether his actions amount to criminal misconduct.
Additionally, the community cited institutional backing for their position.
“The Enugu State House of Assembly did on the 19th December, 2024 adopt the Report of its Special Committee on Land Matters/Dispute wherein the activities of PEIWA were clearly reprimanded.”
Obeagu community further urged the general public to disregard PEIWA’s statements, referring to them as nothing more than “the latest ranting by PEIWA and its agents.”
