Enugu land dispute: Nigeria can’t afford another international embarrassment – HURIWA warns

The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria, HURIWA, has again warned that assets belonging to Nigeria could be seized in foreign countries.

This warning came as a result of land disputes going on in Enugu State,

This is as Transparency Centre Network, TCN, has filed a detailed petition on the matter with various law enforcement agencies, calling for urgent intervention.

TCN copied the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese Embassy in the petition built upon HURIWA’s initial warning.

HURIWA had previously raised an alarm that Governor Peter Mbah of Enugu State reportedly signed the MOU with Chinese companies despite ongoing litigation over the land in Nigerian courts.

The group cautioned that if the courts rule in favor of the original landowners, Nigeria could face international repercussions similar to what occurred in Ogun State, where Nigerian assets, including three presidential aircraft, were seized after a legal dispute involving Chinese companies.

In TCN”s petition, the group alleged that individuals within the Enugu State Government registered companies to sign the MOU, even though the ownership of the land remains contested in court.

“The Transparency Centre Network petition provides further disturbing details about the transaction. It suggests that several Enugu State officials helped set up companies that were used to sign the MOU on behalf of the government. These companies appear to be controlled by political associates of key figures in Enugu, raising serious ethical concerns,” HURIWA said in a statement signed by Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, its National Coordinator.

HURIWA had earlier claimed that the land, reportedly belonging to four indigenous villages—Umunnugwu, Ndiaga, Isiagu, and Umunnajingene and was allegedly unlawfully revoked by the government in 2021.

“Despite reported legal claims by the original landowners, the state government proceeded to sign the MOU, which may have violated court orders. Transparency Centre Network has now echoed HURIWA’s warnings that if the courts rule in favor of the local communities, Nigeria could face arbitration with foreign entities, risking the seizure of critical assets abroad, including embassy properties in China,” the rights group said.

TCN in the petition to Federal agencies such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Department of State Services (DSS), Transparency Centre Network, demanded that the Enugu State Government halt all actions on the disputed land until the courts issue a verdict.

The petition also called for an investigation of the officials involved in facilitating the MOU, particularly those who registered companies believed to be fronts for the illegal acquisition of the land.

HURIWA on its own emphasized that Transparency Centre Network’s findings reinforce its earlier warnings and underscore the urgency of the situation.

The human rights group warned that the Enugu State Government’s actions, if unchecked, could lead to further instability and international embarrassment for Nigeria.

HURIWA reiterated that “Nigeria cannot afford another international embarrassment, especially in a case where the rule of law has been disregarded. The group again called on the Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs to clarify whether President Bola Tinubu was aware of Governor Peter Mbah’s MOU with Chinese companies during his recent visit to China.”

It noted that although Governor Mbah was in China at the same time as the president, he was not officially listed as part of the presidential delegation.