The leader of the Movement for Actualisation of Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), Chief Ralph Uwazuruike, has accused the Archbishop of Owerri Archdiocese, Archbishop Lucious Iwejuru Ugorji, of using the instrument of state to forcibly take over his property at No 26, Housing Area G, New Owerri.
He said the landed property on which he built a structure for his security men was reduced to rubble by officials of the Imo State Government agency, Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA).
In an interview with journalists in Owerri, Chief Uwazuruike said he acquired the land in 2012 with all necessary documents, adding that he was surprised that after many years, the Archbishop surfaced to lay claim to the property.
He alleged that Governor Uzodinma connived with Archbishop Ugorji of the Catholic Diocese of Owerri to demolish and bomb his house to rubble, using explosive devices.
Displaying the documents he used to purchase the land, Uwazuruike who pointed at the debris of the demolished building, said he had been living in the house since 2012, which is about 12 years ago.
He said he was being singled out for punishment because of the non-violent methods he and his members had adopted in the pursuit of Biafran independence.
Uwazuruike said: “As you can see, Governor Hope Uzodimma sent his officials of Owerri Capital Development Authority (OCDA) to demolish my house.
“You cannot kill all of us because we are struggling to actualise Biafra. I will not leave here to any other country. And I will not go into exile.”
Accusing Senator Hope Uzodinma and Archbishop Ugorji of acting as agents to some disgruntled politicians in Abuja, who he said are working against the actualization of Biafra, Uwazuruike insisted he would continue to talk about Biafra and could never go into exile.
He said he was handicapped to retaliate against the attacks by the officials sent by Archbishop Ugorji due to the peaceful approach he had already adopted to actualise Biafra.
His words: “Archbishop Ugorji once called me and said he was interested in the land where I built my house since 2012, even before he was posted to Owerri Catholic diocese.
“In 2016, some people came up to him and said that the land where he built his house belonged to them.
“Last year, they went to the back and obtained an Oluwole judgment from a court without any service to us. Through my lead Counsel, we went to the Appeal Court to appeal and to question the veracity of that judgment.
“A few days ago, Governor Uzodimma sent Prof. Maurice Iwu, the former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC, to me, asking that I should discuss and dialogue with Archbishop Ugorji of Owerri Catholic Diocese.
“I sent copies of the order of the Court of Appeal to Senator Hope Uzodimma and copied the Director of Security Services, DSS, and the Imo State Commissioner of Police.”
He accused the Archbishop of lying and making false claims, adding that Chimezie Elekwachi is represented by an attorney, meaning that the person is not around.
This shows you that the arch Bishop is a liar. The attorney Amugo Ugorji is the archbishop’s younger brother. He is a front for the Bishop.
Reacting, Archbishop Ugorji described Uwazuruike’s claims as false, saying the MASSOB leader has the habit of grabbing people’s land by sheer brigandage.
The Archbishop, who spoke through his lawyer, Chris Ahumibe, said the land covering 805.067sq metres was acquired by Chigoziri Elekwachi by virtue of an irrevocable power of attorney dated 23rd January, 2007.
He said: “Some time in 2015, some men numbering over 15 broke into the property and commenced digging of foundation on the land.
“The men became violent when confronted by Chigoziri Elekwachi’s in-law, Chief Amugo Ugorji, who was the caretaker to the property, and they claimed they were MASSOB members working on Biafraland.
“The Archbishop of Owerri Diocese of the Catholic Church either through his office or as a person is not on any way concerned and has no interest in the land in dispute,” he said.
He also said Governor Uzodimma had no interest in the land in dispute as alleged by Uwazuruike.
He said Elekwachi took possession of his property after a high court judgment had been delivered in his favour.
According to him, “branding of the judgment of a High Court of justice as Jankara and Oluwole is most uncharitable, undeserving and reckless of a person who claims to be a lawyer.”