The Enugu State Housing Development Corporation (ESHDC) has described as acts of mischief claims by a Delta State-based lawyer, Ikedi Abonyi that its officials brutalized him.
The Eastern Updates learnt that the lawyer from Ekema-Ida, Ibeku Opi Community of the State accused the ESHDC officials of manhandling him over his stance on a housing estate project in the area.
But both the agency and his community have now come out to describe the allegation as tissue of lies.
Hon. Chukwuemelie Agu, General Manager/CEO of ESHDC and Comr. John Uchenna Abonyi, President General, Ibeku Opi community, issued separate statements debunking the claims.
The ESHDC, while maintaining that its officials never had anything to do with the Abonyi, said the allegations were “baseless, false, malicious and intended to smear the good reputation” of the Corporation.
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Agu declared that “The Corporation is an Agency of Enugu State Government empowered to negotiate, acquire and develop lands and estates, and has been doing so for more than sixty (60) years.
“The Corporation negotiated and acquired about 3 hectares of land based on requests and presentations by the Ekama-Ida land owners for the purpose of ultra modern housing Estate development. The corporation has never forced any group or people of the community to give out her land for housing development.
“There was never a time the leadership of the Corporation instigated any assault an Mr. Abonyi over land or any other issue whatsoever, and the Corporation is shocked at the magnitude of photoshopping engaged by Mr. Abonyi in posting photographs of vehicles that do not belong to the leadership of the Corporation with the aim of tarnishing the good image of the Corporation and its leadership.
“The Corporation hereby calls on the general public to disregard this campaign of calumny aimed at tarnishing the image of the Corporation and undermining the good works of His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Enugu State, Rt Hon. Dr. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi at bringing development closer to the people.
“The Corporation remains a law abiding corporate body that carries out its functions with utmost integrity.”
Also speaking, the President-General of the community said, “Mr. Abonyi initiated an attack on the land owners and the representatives of the ESHDC during their visit to the land owners prior to commencing a housing estate development on the piece of land we granted to the Corporation by the community, and the youths of the community resisted his actions unknown to our visitors (the leadership of the Corporation).
“The community is by this release disassociating itself from the actions of Mr. Ikedi Abonyi, and emphasis that they are solely behind the Corporation and the State Government in an attempt to bring development to our community.
“Secondly, Mr. Abonyi is acting alone and does not have the mandate of the Community in his actions.”
THE EASTERN UPDATES
