By Cajetan Mmuta,
At least 500 retired civil servants and other individuals in Anambra state have raised the alarm over the alleged extortion of over an N2.3billion for the purchase of parcels of land from the Anambra Home Ownership Company Limited (AHOCOL), a parastatal of state government.

The Aggrieved victims had on Tuesday stormed the state House of Assembly, Awka, the state capital, with placards prevailing on the house to intervene and save them from their predicaments.

They stated that individual payments were made to the agency for the acquisition of a total of 22 estates, with 2868 plots of lands at various locations in the state following an advertorial in the media.

They lamented that they were yet to be shown the plots of lands allocated to them, nor issued their individual survey and building plans almost 11years after full payments were made.

A spokesperson for the protesters Chukwu Miriam Esq. who is the lawyer to the victims under the aegis of Ezukoo Housing Estate Cooperative Society Limited while narrating their ordeal before Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Public Petitions, alleged shortchange and unfair treatment meted out to her clients.

She said the ugly plight of the victims had generated severe apprehension and emotional imbalance in them.

Chukwu pleaded with the lawmakers to wade into the matter to ensure quick dispensation of justice.

She said, “We plead with you to use your good offices and direct the relevant authorities who may have taken over the responsibilities of AHOCOL to release to our clients the estates and/plots of lands they purchased and the withheld documents”.

Also, the Chairman of the Corporative Society, Dr. James Okpala said the decision to approach the House was occasioned by several unanswered letters written to the government, including the State governor, Secretary to the State Government, and Public Complaints Commission.

He said, “Some of us involved in this mess returned from troubled parts of the country to settle in our home country. Some went as far as borrowing from the bank and individual lenders to pay for the lands.

“Some targeted moving into their own houses they erected on the land after retirement, but all these are dashed hopes. In fact, during one of our meetings, one of us collapsed as a result of frustration and trauma.”

While expressing satisfaction over the lawmakers’ prompt intervention, Okpala was optimistic of justice at the end of the day, noting that, “this is the first organ that gave us a listening ear.”

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In addition, Managing Director, Anambra Housing Corporation, Willie Okafor admitted receiving the complainants’ petitions which were replied to, urging them to ensure proper auditing and receipts of properties and monies expended in the process to assist in the investigation.

Responding, Chairman of the committee, Hon. Emeka Aforka, assured the victims of the thorough and quick dispensation of the petitions to guarantee justice.

“We’ll do a thorough investigation, we won’t tolerate the use of any means to extort money from citizens, particularly retirees. We’ll use our legislative powers to get justice for all concerned,” he added.

The matter was adjourned to July 12, 2021, to enable all parties involved, including the Ministry of Finance and Lands, as well as former Managing Director of AHOCOL Dr. Uche Ezeokafor to be contacted ahead of the next hearing.